Dielectric Studies on Dendrite-shaped PbTe, Rod-shaped SnTe and their Nanocomposite

Dendrite shaped PbTe, SnTe nanorods and their nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method using hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent. The formation of nanostructures was confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in both the samples. A detailed study on dielectric properties of these samples in the frequency range of 50 Hz–50 MHz at various temperatures (50-100 C) shows a tremendous enhancement in PbTe and SnTe nanostructures compared to bulk. But in the case of composite system PbTe: SnTe have significantly lower dielectric constants than pure samples due to no additional percolation threshold in the system. Additionally, the potential mechanism behind the formation of dendrite-shaped PbTe is discussed. Raman spectroscopy further validated the presence of Sn within the PbTe system. The synthesized PbTe and SnTe nanostructures are capable of significantly enhancing the dielectric constant compared to their bulk counterparts