Interface-Engineered Copper–Barium Strontium Titanate Composites with Tunable Optical and Dielectric Properties

Abstract

We report the synthesis and multifunctional characterization of copper-reinforced Ba0.85Sr0.15TiO3 (BST) ceramic composites with Cu contents ranging from 0 to 40 wt%, prepared by a sol–gel route and densified using spark plasma sintering (SPS). X-ray diffraction and FT-IR analyses confirm the coexistence of cubic and tetragonal BST phases, while Cu remains as a chemically separate metallic phase without detectable interfacial reaction products. Microstructural observations reveal abnormal grain growth induced by localized liquid-phase-assisted sintering and progressive Cu agglomeration at higher loadings. Scanning electron microscopy reveals abnormal grain growth, with the average BST grain size increasing from approximately 3.1 µm in pure BST to about 5.2 µm in BST–Cu40% composites. Optical measurements show a continuous reduction in the effective optical bandgap (apparent absorption edge) from 3.10 eV for pure BST to 2.01 eV for BST–Cu40%, attributed to interfacial electronic states, defect-related absorption, and enhanced scattering rather than Cu lattice substitution. Electrical characterization reveals a percolation threshold at approximately 30 wt% Cu, where AC conductivity and dielectric permittivity reach their maximum values. Impedance spectroscopy and equivalent-circuit analysis demonstrate strong Maxwell–Wagner interfacial polarization, yielding a maximum permittivity of ~1.2 × 105 at 1 kHz for BST–Cu30%. At higher Cu contents, conductivity and permittivity decrease due to disrupted Cu connectivity and increased porosity. These findings establish BST–Cu composites as tunable ceramic–metal systems with enhanced dielectric and optical responses, demonstrating potential for specialized high-capacitance decoupling applications where giant permittivity is prioritized over low dielectric loss.