Origin of the increase in resistivity of manganese–zinc ferrite polycrystals with oxygen partial pressure

In our present study, the origin of the increase in resistivity of polycrystalline Mn0.47Zn0.47Fe2.06O4 with increasing oxygen partial pressure was investigated by measuring thermoelectric power and electrical resistivity, and through analysis of grain size. The ferrous ion (Fe2+) concentration of the samples was estimated using the thermoelectric power data and it indicated that the increase of oxygen partial pressure accompanied only a 0.5 wt. % decrease in the concentration of Fe2+. The decrease in Fe2+ concentration failed to explain the order of magnitude increase in resistivity. Preferential oxidation of the grain boundaries did not contribute to the increase in resistivity since all the samples were cooled under the same conditions, i.e., constant oxidation potential. Impedance spectroscopy revealed that the increase in resistivity arose from the increase in resistivity of the grain boundary; this is discussed in terms of the microscopic shape factor, the brick-layer model, and the Maxwell–Wagner model. It is suggested that the increase in resistivity, with increasing oxygen partial pressure, originates from the increase in the microscopic shape factor of the grain boundary.