Jj. Roberts et Ja. Tyburczy, IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY OF SINGLE AND POLYCRYSTALLINE OLIVINE - EVIDENCE FOR GRAIN-BOUNDARY TRANSPORT, Physics and chemistry of minerals, 20(1), 1993, pp. 19-26
The impedance spectra of single and polycrystalline olivine display tw
o and three impedance arcs, respectively. Impedance spectra of single
crystal olivine, polycrystalline olivine compacts, and natural dunite
are compared to deduce the causes of the different impedance arcs. Var
iation of sample dimensions and use of three- and four-electrode confi
gurations aid in the interpretation. The resistance of the two highest
frequency mechanisms varies directly with the length to area ratio (l
/A) of the sample. Experiments using the four-electrode configuration
confirm that the lowest frequency impedance arc is caused by processes
at the sample-electrode interface. In both single and polycrystalline
samples the highest frequency mechanism is interpreted as bulk (grain
interior) conduction, and the lowest frequency mechanism is attribute
d to sample-electrode interface effects. In the polycrystalline sample
s, the intermediate frequency mechanism is interpreted as the grain bo
undary conduction mechanism. The resistances of the grain interior and
grain boundary mechanisms add in a series manner.