The decrease of depolarization temperature and the improvement of pyroelectric properties by doping Ta in lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics

Ta-doped lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xTa (x=0.0–1.0%) ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. The depolarization temperature (T_d) shifted to lower temperature with the increase of Ta content. The pyroelectric coefficient (p) of doped ceramics greatly enhanced compared with undoped material and reached a maximum of 7.14×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at room temperature (RT) and 146.1×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at T_d at x=0.2%. The figure of merits, F_i and F_v, also showed a great improvement from 1.12×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.021 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.0 to 2.55×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.033 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.2% at RT. Furthermore, F_i and F_v show the huge improvement to 52.2×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.48×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x=0.2%. F_C shows a value between 2.26 and 2.42 ×10⁻⁹ C cm⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x=0.2%. The improved pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-0.002Ta ceramics a promising infrared detector material.     

Selective electrochemical behavior of highly conductive boron-doped diamond electrodes for fluvastatin sodium oxidation

Boron-doped diamond electrodes have received much attention for electrochemical determination due to their attractive electrochemical properties over other electrodes. The electrooxidation of fluvastatin sodium at boron-doped diamond electrode was investigated using cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry. The possible mechanism of oxidation was discussed with model compounds that have indole oxidation. The dependence of the peak current and potentials on pH, concentration, scan rate, and the nature of the buffer were investigated. The oxidation of fluvastatin was irreversible and exhibited a diffusion-controlled fashion. The slope of the log i_p–log v linear plot was 0.44 indicating the diffusion control for pH 10.00 Britton–Robinson buffer solution. The linear response was obtained in the ranges of 1 × 10^− 6 M–6 × 10^− 4 M in pH 10.00 BR buffer solution. The detection limit of the standard solution is estimated to be 1.37 × 10^− 7 M for DPV, 1.44 × 10^− 7 M for SWV. The repeatability of the methods was found as 0.66 and 0.15 RSD % for peak currents for differential pulse and square wave voltammetry, respectively. The practical analytical value of the method is demonstrated by quantitative determination of fluvastatin in pharmaceutical formulation and human serum, without the need for separation or complex sample preparation, since there was no interference from the excipients and endogenous substances. Selectivity, reproducibility and accuracy of the developed methods were demonstrated by recovery studies.     

A highly selective and sensitive Schiff-base based turn-on optical sensor for Cu2 + in aqueous medium and acetonitrile

A simple “turn-on” fluorescence chemosensor L (E)-2-((4-(diphenylamino)benzylide-ne)amino)phenol has been synthesized, which displays a rapid, highly sensitive and selective detection for Cu^2 + ions amongst other metal ions. The association constant for L-Cu^2 + complex determine from Benesi–Hildbrand plot was found as 1.96 × 10⁷ M^− 1 and 5.43 × 10⁷ M^− 1 with the detection limit of 1.8 × 10^− 7 M and 8.5 × 10^− 7 M in CH₃CN and CH₃CN/H₂O (v/v = 4/6, pH = 7.4) HEPES buffer, respectively. Potential application of L for Cu^2 + detection in real water samples was also investigated.     

Effect of Nd-doping on structural,thermal and electrochemical properties of LaFe0.5Cr0.5O3 perovskites

The structural, thermal and electrochemical properties of the perovskite-type compound La_1−xNd_xFe_0.5Cr_0.5O₃ (x=0.10, 0.15, 0.20) are investigated by X-ray diffraction, thermal expansion, thermal diffusion, thermal conductivity and impedance spectroscopy measurements. Rietveld refinement shows that the compounds crystallize with orthorhombic symmetry in the space group Pbnm. The average thermal expansion coefficient decreases as the content of Nd increases. The average coefficient of thermal expansion in the temperature range of 30–850 °C is 10.12×10⁻⁶, 9.48×10⁻⁶ and 7.51×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ for samples with x=0.1, 0.15 and 0.2, respectively. Thermogravimetric analyses show small weight gain at high temperatures which correspond to filling up of oxygen vacancies as well as the valence change of the transition metals. The electrical conductivity measured by four-probe method shows that the conductivity increases with the content of Nd; the electrical conductivity at 520 °C is about 4.71×10⁻³, 6.59×10⁻³ and 9.62×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ for samples with x=0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively. The thermal diffusivity of the samples decreases monotonically as temperature increases. At 600 °C, the thermal diffusivity is 0.00425, 0.00455 and 0.00485 cm² s⁻¹ for samples with x=0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively. Impedance measurements in symmetrical cell arrangement in air reveal that the polarization resistance decreases from 55 Ω cm⁻² to 22.5 Ω cm⁻² for increasing temperature from 800 °C to 900 °C, respectively.     

One-pot synthesis of silver nanoparticle catalysts supported on N-doped ordered mesoporous carbon and application in the detection of nitrobenzene

Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) supported on nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon (N-OMC) were fabricated by one-pot synthesis strategy, in which 2D hexagonally ordered mesoporous SBA-15 and aniline were used as template and carbon precursor, respectively. Furthermore, the as-prepared composite of Ag NPs supported on N-OMC (Ag NPs/N-OMC) as electrochemical sensor towards the reduction of nitrobenzene (NB) was investigated, which displayed high sensitivity, fast response and good stability. The peak current of NB increased linearly with the concentration of NB in the range from 6.62 × 10⁻⁸ to 2.60 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L and 7.97 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.12 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L, and the low detection limit of 6.61 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L (S/N = 3) was obtained. Therefore, this work provides a new pathway to design and fabricate novel N-OMC composites, which have unique characteristics and hold numerous applications in the fields of sensors, electrocatalysis and others.     

Thermal,mechanical and electrical properties of hard B4C,BCN, ZrBC and ZrBCN ceramics

We study the thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of B₄C, BCN, ZrBC and ZrBCN ceramics prepared in the form of thin films by magnetron sputtering. We focus on the effect of Zr_x(B₄C)_1−x sputter target composition, the N₂+Ar discharge gas mixture composition, the deposition temperature and the annealing temperature after the deposition. The thermal properties of interest include thermal conductivity (observed in the range 1.3–7.3 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹), heat capacity (0.37–1.6×10³ J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ or 1.9–4.1×10⁶ Jm⁻³ K⁻¹), thermal effusivity (1.6–4.5×10³ J m⁻² s^−1/2 K⁻¹) and thermal diffusivity (0.38–2.6×10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹). We discuss the relationships between materials composition, preparation conditions, structure, thermal properties, temperature dependence of the thermal properties and other (mechanical and electrical) properties. We find that the materials structure (amorphous×crystalline hexagonal ZrB₂-like×nanocrystalline cubic ZrN-like), more than the composition, is the crucial factor determining the thermal conductivity and other properties. The results are particularly important for the design of future ceramic materials combining tailored thermal properties, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and oxidation resistance.     

Enhancement of pyroelectric properties of lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics by La doping

Lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xLa ceramics at x = 0.0–1.0 (%) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. With increasing La³⁺ content pyroelectric coefficient (p) and figures of merits greatly increase; however, the depolarization temperature (T_d) decreases. p is 7.24 × 10⁻⁴C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x = 0.5% and 105.4 × 10⁻⁴C.m^−2 °C⁻¹ at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_i and F_v show improvements at RT from 1.12 (x = 0%) to 2.65 (x10 ⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹) (x = 0.5%) and from 0.021 to 0.048 (m².C⁻¹) respectively. F_i and F_v show a huge increase to 37.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.56 m² C⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_C shows values of 2.10, 2.89, and 2.98 (x10⁻⁹C cm⁻² °C⁻¹) at RT at 33, 100 and 1000 (Hz) respectively. Giant pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-xLa at x = 0.2% and 0.5% promising materials for many pyroelectric applications.     

SPS processing of bismuth-layer structured ferroelectric ceramics yielding highly textured microstructures

The spark plasma sintering (SPS) behaviour of nano-sized Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BIT) and micron-sized CaBi₂Nb₂O₉ (CBNO) powders is described. The densification process of both powders is very rapid, i.e. the densification occurs within a very narrow time interval (2–3 min using a heating rate of 100 °C min⁻¹ and a pressure of 50 MPa). The BIT powder exhibits a lower densification onset temperature (∼650 °C) and higher maximum shrinkage rate (8.9 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ at 780 °C) than that of the CBNO powder (∼825 °C and 4.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ at 950 °C). Isothermal compaction studies revealed that fully dense nano-sized BIT compacts could be obtained within the temperature region 750 °C < T_iso < 850 °C while for T_iso > 850 °C compacts containing elongated platelet grains are formed. A new preparation route to produce highly textured compacts is described in detail. Appropriate pre-forms are prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and these fully dense compacts are subject to superplastic deformation in the SPS unit to achieve a total compressive strain of ∼60%. This strain was achieved within a period of 1.5 min and with a maximum strain rates of 1.1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ achieved at ∼840 °C and 1.3 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ at 1020 °C for the BIT and CBNO compacts, respectively. The X-ray studies showed that the Lotgering orientation factors of grains in the deformed BIT and CBNO compacts are 99% and 70%. The formation of highly textured compacts is suggested to be governed by a superplastic deformation-induced directional dynamic ripening mechanism.     

Zinc(II) modified carbon paste electrodes based on self-assembled mercapto compounds-gold-nanoparticles for its determination in water samples

In the present study newly developed potentiometric sensors for determination of zinc(II) are presented. The proposed potentiometric method was based on the fabrication of modified carbon paste (MCPE; electrode X) and modified gold nanoparticles-carbon paste (GNPs-CPE; electrode IX) sensors. A mercapto compound of 1,4-bis(5-mercaptopentyloxy)-benzene (BMPB) alone or self-assembled on gold nanoparticles was used as modifier to construct electrode (X) and electrode (IX) sensors, respectively. The prepared electrodes exhibit Nernstian slope of 29.93 ± 0.4 and 26.0 ± 1.02 mV decade⁻¹ towards Zn(II) ion over a wide concentration range of 6.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 2.9 × 10⁻² and 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ for electrode (IX) and electrode (X) sensors, respectively. The limit of detection of the electrode (IX) and electrode (X) sensors was found to be 6.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, respectively. The potentiometric response of the electrode (IX) and electrode (X) based on GNPs-BMPB and BMPB are independent of pH of test solution in the pH range of 2.5–8.1 and 3–7 with a response time of 6 and 8 s for electrode (IX) and electrode (X) sensors, respectively. The proposed sensors showed fairly good discriminating ability towards Zn(II) ion in comparison with many hard and soft metal ions. Finally, the proposed electrodes were successfully used as indicator electrodes in potentiometric titration of zinc ion with sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and in direct determination of Zn(II) ion in some water samples. The results obtained compared well with those obtained using atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Cooperative adsorption of bisphenol-A and chromium(III) ions from water on activated carbons prepared from olive-mill waste

The aim of this study was to investigate the simultaneous adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA) and chromium ions from aqueous solution on activated carbons (both commercial and prepared from olive-mill waste), analyzing both kinetic and equilibrium adsorption data. The effects of solution pH and ionic strength on the adsorption processes were also studied, as well as the chemical interactions between the carbon surface and the pollutants. The activated carbon prepared from olive-mill waste showed: a large surface area (up to 1641 m² g⁻¹), a highly heterogeneous micropore distribution, and a basic chemical nature. The pore volume diffusion model was used to predict the adsorption kinetics of both pollutants. The effective diffusion coefficients ranged between 1.15 × 10⁻⁶ and 9.18 × 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹ for the BPA–Cr(III) system and between 1.65 × 10⁻⁶ and 2.8 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ for the Cr(III)–BPA system. The presence of both Cr(III) and BPA in the binary systems increases the adsorption effective diffusion coefficients and therefore the overall adsorption rate of each pollutant. The increased adsorption of each adsorbate when both pollutants are present is due to the in situ formation of complex compounds between Cr(III), acting as central metallic cation, and BPA, acting as ligand, during adsorption of both adsorbates on activated carbon.     

Diamond based field-effect transistors with SiNx and ZrO2 double dielectric layers

A diamond-based field-effect transistor (FET) with SiN_x and ZrO₂ double dielectric layer has been demonstrated. The SiN_x and ZrO₂ gate dielectric are deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and radio frequency (RF) sputter methods, respectively. SiN_x layer is found to have the ability to preserve the conduction channel at the surface of hydrogen-terminated diamond film. The leakage current density (J) of SiN_x/ZrO₂ diamond metal-insulator-semiconductor FET (MISFET) keeps lower than 3.88 × 10^− 5 A·cm^− 2 when the gate bias was changed from 2 V to − 8 V. The double dielectric layer FET operates in a p-type depletion mode, whose maximum drain-source current, threshold voltage, maximum transconductance, effective mobility and sheet hole density are determined to be − 28.5 mA·mm^− 1, 2.2 V, 4.53 mS·mm^− 1, 38.9 cm²·V^− 1·s^− 1, and 2.14 × 10¹³ cm^− 2, respectively.     

NBS–rCDs(OH−) chemiluminescence analysis system for the determination of cobalt ions

A novel sensing system has been designed for cobalt ion detection based on a cobalt ion improved chemiluminescence (CL) in N-bromosuccinimide(NBS)-reduced carbon quantum dot (rCD) (OH⁻) system. The mechanism of this CL analysis system has been preliminarily studied. In this work, it was demonstrated that this facile methodology offers rapid, sensitive and reliable detection for cobalt ions with a detection limit as low as 3.252 × 10^− 6 mol/L and a linearity range from 1.004 × 10^− 5 to 1.004 × 10^− 3 mol/L (r = 0.9990), which has promising application prospects.     

The phase stability and thermophysical properties of InFeO3(ZnO)m (m = 2, 3, 4, 5)

The phase stability and thermophysical properties of InFeO₃(ZnO)_m (m = 2, 3, 4, 5) compounds were investigated, which are a general family of homologous layered compounds with general formula InFeO₃(ZnO)_m (m = 1–19). InFeO₃(ZnO)_m (m = 2, 3, 4, 5) ceramics were synthesized using cold pressing followed by solid-state sintering. They revealed an excellent thermal stability after annealing at 1450 °C for 48 h. No phase transformation occurred during heating to 1400 °C. InFeO₃(ZnO)₃ exhibited a thermal conductivity of 1.38 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 1000 °C, which is about 30% lower than that of 8 wt.% yttria stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) thermal barrier coatings. The thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of InFeO₃(ZnO)m bulk ceramics were in a range of (10.97 ± 0.33) × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ to (11.46 ± 0.35) × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 900 °C, which are comparable to those of 8YSZ ceramics.     

Copper separation from nitrate/nitric acid media using Acorga M5640 extractant: Part II. Supported liquid membrane study

The facilitated transport of copper(II) from nitrate/nitric acid media through a flat-sheet supported liquid membrane (FSSLM) is investigated, using the commercially available oxime Acorga M5640 as ionophore, as a function of hydrodynamic conditions, concentration of copper (7.9×10⁻⁵ to 1.3×10⁻³ M) and H⁺ (pH 1.0–2.0) and ionic strength in the feed solution, carrier concentration (5–40% v/v) in the membrane and support characteristics. The performance of the system is also compared using various diluents for the organic phase and against other available oxime extractants (MOC-55TD, LIX 860 and LIX 622). A model is presented that describes the transport mechanism, consisting of diffusion through a feed side aqueous diffusion layer, a fast interfacial chemical reaction, and diffusion of carrier and its metal complex through the organic membrane. The organic membrane diffusional resistance (Δ_o) and aqueous diffusional resistance (Δ_a) were calculated from the proposed model, and their values were 7.6×10⁶ and 273 s/cm, respectively. It was observed that the copper flux across the membrane tends to reach a plateau at high concentration of copper or a low concentration of H⁺ owing to carrier saturation within the membrane, and leads to a diffusion-controlled process. The values of the apparent diffusion coefficient (D_o^a) and limiting metal flux (J_lim) were calculated from the limiting conditions and found to be 2.0×10⁻⁸ cm²/s and 2.3×10⁻¹¹ mol/cm² s, respectively. The values of the bulk diffusion coefficient (D_o,b) and diffusion coefficient (D_o) calculated from the model were 5.9×10⁻⁹ and 1.6×10⁻⁹ cm²/s, respectively. The polymeric microporous solid support, Durapore GVHP 04700, was selected throughout the study as it gave the best performance.     

Ion implantation and anneal to produce low resistance metal–diamond contacts

Contacts to boron-doped, (100)-oriented diamond implanted with Si or with Si and B were formed and the effects of dose, implantation energy and anneal treatment on the specific contact resistance were examined. Ti/Au contacts on heavily implanted diamond (10¹⁶ Si ions cm⁻², E_i=30 keV or 10¹⁷ Si and B ions cm⁻², E_i=15 keV (Si) and E_i=10 keV (B)) had a specific contact resistance lower than the best contacts produced on unimplanted diamond. A specific contact resistance of (1.4±6.4)×10⁻⁷ Ω cm⁻² was achieved following a 450°C anneal. The results were consistent with a reduction in barrier height brought about by silicide formation. Light silicon implantation (10¹³ ions cm⁻²) or relatively light dual implantation (B, Si<10¹⁶ ions cm⁻²) did not reduce the specific contact resistance. Increasing the diamond conductivity by 4×10⁴ decreased the specific contact resistance by over three orders of magnitude, in agreement with the trend observed by Prins (J.F. Prins, J. Phys. D 22 (1989) 1562).     

A colorimetric chemosensor for Cu(II) ion in aqueous medium

A novel quinoline-based colorimetric chemosensor (HL) and its Cu(II) complex (CuL₂) were synthesized. HL exhibits an obvious color change from colorless to yellow upon addition of Cu^2 + in aqueous medium. This response was investigated by UV–vis absorption and ESI-MS spectra, and all the results indicated the species formed in detection system is CuL₂. The color change can be attributed to ligand-metal charge transfer (LMCT) in CuL₂. The association constant for CuL₂ in THF/H₂O was calculated to be 4.43 × 10⁹ M^− 2.     

Adsorption of uranyl ions on kaolinite,montmorillonite, humic acid and composite clay material

Adsorption of uranyl ions onto kaolinite, montmorillonite, humic acid and composite clay material (both clays and humic acid) was studied by measuring the system response to clay suspensions (pre-equilibrated with or without uranyl) and to perturbations of the solution chemistry. Adsorption behavior of selected materials under the frame of batch experiments was tested at high uranyl concentrations (6–1170 μg/mL; 2.5 × 10^− 2 to 4.9 μM), whereas that under flow through continuous stirred reactor experiments was tested at low concentrations (1.00 × 10^− 4 to 1.18 × 10^− 4 M). Both experiments were developed at pH 4.5 and ionic strength 0.2 mM. The adsorption experiments follow a Langmuir isotherm model with a good correlation coefficient (R² > 0.97). The calculated amount of adsorbed and desorbed uranyl was carried out by numeric integration of the experimental data, whereas the desorption rates were determined from the breakthrough curve experiments. Kaolinite with highly disordered structure adsorbed less uranyl (3.86 × 10^− 6 mol/g) than well-ordered kaolinite (1.76 × 10^− 5 mol/g). Higher amount of uranyl was adsorbed by montmorillonite (3.60 × 10^− 5 mol/g) and only half of adsorbed amount was desorbed (1.85 × 10^− 5 mol/g). The molecular interactions between kaolinite, montmorillonite, humic acid, composite material and saturated uranyl ion solutions were studied by molecular fluorescence, infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Stern–Volmer constant obtained for montmorillonite (2.6 × 10³ M^− 1) is higher than for kaolinite (0.3 × 10³ M^− 1). Molecular vibrations of SiO stretching and AlOH bending related to hydroxylated groups (SiOH or AlOH) of kaolinite and montmorillonite show structural changes when uranyl ions are adsorbed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the U 4f_7/2 core level signals occur at 380.5 eV in either kaolinite or montmorillonite that resulted from the interaction of aluminol surface sites with the (UO₂)₃(OH)₅⁺.     

Mixed-valent diruthenium diphosphonate containing zigzag chain structure of {Ru2(hedp)2(SCN)}n4n−

This paper reports the crystal structure and magnetism properties of a novel mixed-valent diruthenium(II,III) complex, [C(NH₂)₃]₄[Ru₂(hedp)₂(SCN)]·4H₂O (1), where hedp represents 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate. It shows a zigzag chain structure in which the paddlewheel diruthenium(II,III) dimers of Ru₂(hedp)₂^3 − linked by SCN⁻ bridges. The chains are stacked along the [011] direction with strong intra- and interchain hydrogen bonds. Magnetic studies show that significant antiferromagnetic exchanges are mediated between the [Ru₂(hedp)₂]^3 − (S = 3/2) units through thiocyanate ion bridges. Structural analysis proves that the RuRu bond weakening ability is H₂O < Br⁻ < Cl⁻ < μ-NCS⁻ < μ-NC⁻ < μ-SCN⁻.     

Rapid oxidative activation of carbon nanotube yarn and sheet by a radio frequency,atmospheric pressure,helium and oxygen plasma

Carbon nanotube yarn and sheet were activated using radio frequency, atmospheric pressure, helium and oxygen plasmas. The nanotubes were exposed to the plasma afterglow, which contained 8.0 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ ground state O atoms, 8.0 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ metastable O₂ (¹Δ_g), and 1.0 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ ozone. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy revealed that 30 s of plasma treatment converted 25.2% of the carbon atoms on the CNT surface to oxidized species, producing 17.0% alcohols, 5.9% carbonyls, and 2.3% carboxylic acids. The electrical resistivity increased linearly with the extent of oxidation of the CNT from 4 to 9 × 10⁻⁶ Ω m. On the other hand, the tensile strength of the yarn was decreased by only 27% following plasma oxidation.     

Temperature-stable and high-ɛ dielectric ceramics based on Ag (Nb1−xTax)O3

The dielectric properties of novel dielectric system AgNb_1−xTa_xO₃ (ANT) have been studied in this paper. In this system, the temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) can be adjusted to 0 ± 30 × 10⁻⁶/°C by choosing proper molar ratio of Nb⁵⁺ to Ta⁵⁺. When 2 wt% glass is added to the ceramics, the sintering temperature is reduced to 960 °C, which restrains Ag⁺ decomposition in ambient atmosphere. It is noted that the dielectric loss reduces further after adding 2.5 wt% Sb₂O₅. The dielectric properties of the resultant samples are as follows: dielectric constant ɛ ≈ 512, loss tangent tan δ ≈ 5.2 × 10⁻⁴, and TCC ≈ 10 × 10⁻⁶/°C.