Abstract
NASICON glass sample with a composition of Li
1.3
Fe
0.3
(BaTi)
1.7
(PO
4
)
3
was prepared using the conventional melt-quenching technique at 1300
∘
C for one hour after two stages of calcination process at 300
∘
C and 600
∘
C respectively. DTA was used to determine (T
g
) and (T
c
) of the as-quenched glass sample. XRD was used to confirm the glassy state of the prepared sample. The as-quenched glass sample was heat treated near its onset crystallization temperature for different times 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours. The gradual precipitation of the crystalline nano-particles with NASICON type structure was also confirmed using XRD. The as-prepared sample and the five heat treated (HT) samples were investigated using Mössbauer spectroscopy, DC and AC conductivities and dielectric permittivity. FTIR, density, and TEM measurements were also performed. After HT, XRD and FTIR measurements conformed the formation of NASICON phase. The results of the dielectric permittivity showed no maximum peak in the studied temperature and frequency ranges, which indicates the absence of ferroelectric behavior of the HT glass sample. Mössbauer data showed that the iron in the glass and its HT samples include two ionic states, Fe
3+
(O
h
) and Fe
2+
(O
h
) ions. It is observed that the DC conductivity of the HT glass for 5 h was almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of the parent glass.