Microstructure and Thermally Stimulated Depolarisation Currents of Sls Glass Partially Substituted by Copper

Results of investigations of the structural characteristics and dielectric properties of soda lime silicate (SLS) glass partially substituted by monovalent copper and annealed in hydrogen have been presented. Transmission electron microscopy observations of the replicated surfaces were used to characterise the morphology of the glassy matrix and the dopant as well. Thermally stimulated depolarisation current (TSDC) measurements gave information concerning the relaxation phenomena in the doped dielectrics. It has been shown that the annealing of suitably exchanged specimens in a hydrogen atmosphere results in the formation of nanosized particles of Cu and Cu2O. The detected TSDC-spectra have been interpreted in terms of Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars interfacial polarisation.