Synthesis of nanocrystalline Li0.05In0.05Ni0.90O powder and its bulk giant dielectric properties

Li_0.05In_0.05Ni_0.90O (LINO) nanoparticles of 100-300 nm were successfully prepared by a direct thermal decomposition method. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the phase formation and microstructure of the LINO powder and ceramic, respectively. Dense LINO ceramic was obtained by sintering the LINO nanocrystalline powder at 1200°C for 4 h. Giant dielectric properties of the sintered LINO ceramic were investigated as functions of temperature and frequency and can be ascribed to the interfacial polarization mechanism and the small polaron hopping inside the grains.