Isothermal and nonisothermal dielectric relaxation spectroscopy for probing cation/network interaction energies in ionic solids

Data obtained from measurements of complex impedance Spectroscopy (constant sample temperature, varying electric field frequency) and dielectric dynamic thermal analysis (sample heated at a constant rate, constant electric field frequency) on Na-Mordenite (a zeolite) samples are presented and compared. Specifically, the shape and energies of the distribution of activation energies obtained from each experimental technique are compared. The two distributions are similar. However, the data obtained from dielectric dynamic thermal analysis (DDTA) seem to be independent of some experimental conditions, e.g. sample geometry and the sample/electrode interface. DDTA therefore appears to be a useful technique for investigation of dielectric relaxation in ionic solids.