Structural and electrical properties of Ti doped α-Fe2O3

Abstract

In this work we have analyzed the effects of Ti doping on structural and electrical properties of α-Fe2O3. When the amount of added Ti (5 wt.%TiO2) was within the solubility degree and XRD, SEM and EDS analysis revealed a homogenous hematite structure, with lattice parameters a= 5.03719(3) Å, c=13.7484(1) Å slightly increased due to incorporation of Ti into the rhombohedral hematite lattice. Higher amounts of Ti (10 wt.%TiO2) resulted in the formation of pseudobrookite, besides hematite, confirmed by SEM and EDS analysis. Studies of electric properties in the temperature range 25-225°C at different frequencies (100 - 1Mz) showed that Ti doping improved electrical conductivity. Impedance analysis was performed using an equivalent circuit, showing one relaxation process and suggesting dominant grain boundary contribution.