Non-phenomenological description of complex dielectric permittivity of metal-containing porous glasses

The main aim of this paper is the theoretical and experimental study of the dielectric characteristics of composite materials based on porous non-organic glasses containing metal nanoparticles. Dielectric properties of the materials were investigated using a Broad Band Dielectric Spectrometer (NOVOCONTROL BDS 80) over wide frequency (0.1–105 Hz) and temperature (−120 to 300 °C) ranges. For a description of dielectric response of such composite materials, a non-phenomenological model has been proposed based on the hopping of electrons between glass traps around the metal nanoparticles. The model provided an insight into the dependence of the dielectric properties of the nanocomposites, depending on nature and concentration of nanoparticles, their size distribution, temperature dependence and type of matrix. The results of the model demonstrate the physically justified features.