The effect of non-stoichiometry on the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of the Mg1+δTiO3+δ ceramics

The microwave dielectric properties and microstructure of Mg_1+δTiO_3+δ (−0.05 ≤ δ ≤ 0.05) ceramics prepared via the conventional solid-state route were investigated. A slight deviation from stoichiometry does not practically affect the relative permittivity and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency of the specimen. However, the Q × f value is very sensitive to the composition and it shows a non-linear variation corresponding to a relative amount of Mg. A very high Q × f can be achieved for specimen with single MgTiO₃ phase, which can be obtained within the compositional range −0.02 ≤ δ ≤ 0.02. In addition, a low Q × f measured for specimens at δ < −0.02 can be attributed to the presence of second phase MgTi₂O₅. An extremely high Q × f of ∼357,600 GHz (at 10 GHz) together with an ?_r of ∼18.3 and a τ_f of ∼−50 ppm/°C can be found for specimen using Mg_1.02TiO_3.02.     

Crystal structure and dielectric properties of La(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3-Ca0.8Sm0.4/3TiO3 solid solution system at microwave frequencies

The crystal structure and the dielectric properties of (1 − x)La(Mg_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃-xCa_0.8Sm_0.4/3TiO₃ ceramics have been investigated. Ca_0.8Sm_0.4/3TiO₃ was employed as a τ_f compensator and was added to La(Mg_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃ to achieve a temperature-stable material. The formation of (1 − x)La(Mg_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃-xCa_0.8Sm_0.4/3TiO₃ solid solutions were confirmed by the XRD results and the measured lattice parameters for all compositions. The dielectric properties are strongly correlated to the sintering temperature and the compositional ratio of the specimens. Although the ?_r of the specimen could be boosted by increasing the amount of Ca_0.8Sm_0.4/3TiO₃, it would instead render a decrease in the Q × f. The τ_f value is strongly correlated to the compositions and can be controlled by the existing phases. A new microwave dielectric material 0.45La(Mg_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃-0.55Ca_0.8Sm_0.4/3TiO₃, possessing a fine combination of microwave dielectric properties with an ?_r of 47.83, a Q × f of 26,500 GHz (at 6.2 GHz) and a τ_f of −1.7 ppm/°C, is proposed as a very promising candidate material for today's 3G applications.     

Relaxation mechanisms and microstructure in glass and glass-ceramics

Two LAS (Li₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂)-type glass-ceramics and their parent glass have been studied by isothermal mechanical spectroscopy. These materials have the same chemical composition but the two glass-ceramics differ in microstructure: one is a ‘β-quartz’ glass-ceramic whereas the other one is of ‘β-spodumene’ type. The isothermal internal friction measurements performed in a frequency sweep [10⁻⁴–31.6 Hz] with an inverted torsion pendulum, submitted to subresonant forced oscillations, at temperatures between 93 and 820 K, have revealed several mechanical relaxation peaks. A single internal friction peak is observed in the glass sample whereas two peaks occur in the ‘β-quartz’ and ‘β-spodumene’ glass-ceramics. A detailed microstructure analysis (XRD, IRTF, SEM, TEM and DTA) and dielectric loss measurements have allowed to interpret these relaxation phenomena. The mechanical relaxation peak observed in the glass (290 K for 1 Hz) is assigned to the stress-induced movement of lithium ions. In each glass-ceramic the ‘low-temperature’ peak (340 K for 1 Hz) is linked with the ion mobility in the respective main crystalline phase. As for the ‘high-temperature’ peak, its origin is totally different for the two glass-ceramics; in the ‘β-quartz’ glass-ceramic it is due to the Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ion relaxation in the crystalline phase, whereas in the ‘β-spodumene’ glass-ceramic it is linked with a complex entity within the residual vitreous phase.     

Growth and dielectric properties of Ca3NbGa3Si2O14 crystals

A new langasite type single crystal Ca₃NbGa₃Si₂O₁₄ (CNGS) was grown by Czochralski (CZ) method. The structure of CNGS crystal was determined by X-ray powder diffraction, the lattice parameters were a=0.8087 ± 0.0001 nm, c=0.4974 ± 0.0002 nm, V=0.2817 ± 0.0002 nm³; The congruency of CNGS was examined by measuring the chemical composition of the grown crystal by quantitative X-ray fluorescent (XRF) analysis. The melting point of CNGS crystal was measured by using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dielectric properties of (1 1 0) wafer plate were studied in the temperature range from 298.15 to 873.15 K; the frequency dependence of dielectric loss in the frequency range 10 Hz–13 MHz was measured.     

Structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of La2−xCaxNiO4+δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3)

The synthesis, structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of a new type of high permittivity materials La_2−xCa_xNiO_4+δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) (abbreviated as LCNs) were reported. The samples were prepared through conventional solid state reaction route. Detailed structural information was retrieved by Rietveld refinement; normalized bond length and bond valence was calculated to investigate the compression/dilation effect of bonds and atoms in unit cell. It can be found all samples belong to K₂NiF₄ structure with space group I4/mmm. Doping of Ca in La₂NiO_4+δ shrinks the unit cell and makes the structure tend to become instable. Three types of (La, Ca)-O bonds, and two kinds of Ni-O bonds exist in LCNs. Along c axis there are alternately compressed (La,Ca)O₉ dodecahedra and lengthened NiO₆ octahedra. Room temperature magnetic measurements show that the materials are paramagnetic and Ca doping can improve the spontaneous magnetization. Furthermore, all samples have colossal values of the dielectric constant (?) at frequencies lower than 1 kHz. Interestingly, La_1.8Ca_0.2NiO_4+δ maintains its high permittivity at frequencies up to 1 MHz while La_1.7Ca_0.3NiO_4+δ has the lowest dielectric loss (tan δ). Calcium doping can effectively enhance ? and inhibit tan δ. The distortion of (La,Ca)O₉ dodecahedra can well explain their dielectric properties.     

Dielectric response of carbon coated TiC nanocubes at 2-18 GHz frequencies

Microwave frequency (2-18 GHz) dielectric response has been investigated in the carbon-coated cubic TiC nanoparticles embedded in paraffin matrix with different weight fractions. DC conductivity measurements showed that the TiC nanocubes/paraffin composites have a percolation threshold of about 30 wt%. Absorption property was found to be improved with increasing mass ratio in the present system, up to a mass ratio of 50 wt%. Reflection loss exceeding −20 dB in the frequency range of 6-16 GHz, with layer thicknesses from 2 to 4 mm, was found in the 50 wt% loaded sample. TiC nanocube/paraffin composite with a proper mass ratio can be very good prospective microwave absorption agent.     

Dielectric investigation of MM(PO4)2 double orthophosphates (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb; M = Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, Sn)

M^IIM^IV(PO₄)₂ (M^II = Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb; M^IV = Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, Sn) ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction method and consolidated by spark plasma sintering in order to study their electrical properties. The dielectric study performed at room temperature was aimed to determine the basic electrical properties of these compounds. Maxwell-Wagner polarization contributions, which are active at low frequencies cause a strong extrinsic increase of both real and imaginary part of permittivity as well of the dc-conductivity for BaZr(PO₄)₂, BaTi(PO₄)₂, BaHf(PO₄)₂, and SrGe(PO₄)₂ double orthophosphates. Moderate real (ε^′r=20-150) and imaginary low-frequency permittivity (ε^′r=7-300) and typical Debye relaxation with relaxation time in the range of ms is typical for: PbHf(PO₄)₂, PbZn(PO₄)₂, and CaGe(PO₄)₂. At high-frequency (f = 10⁹ Hz), the ceramics have permittivities of 2.29÷8.02 and tangent loss of 0.003÷0.153. The compounds SrGe(PO₄)₂, BaGe(PO₄)₂, BaZr(PO₄)₂ and BaSn(PO₄)₂ have excellent high-frequency dielectric characteristics, with losses of 3÷6% and permittivity slightly above 2 and are possible candidate as microwave ceramics.     

Dielectric properties and current–voltage nonlinear behavior of Ca1−xSrxCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

The effects of Sr doping on the dielectric properties and current–voltage nonlinear behavior of CCTO were investigated. By combining the observations of dielectric properties, current–voltage nonlinearity and impedance spectroscopy, we have found that Sr doping has influenced the electrical properties by adjusting the impedance characteristics of the grain and grain boundary. Among the Sr-CCTO specimens in this work, as Sr doping concentration is 10%, the specimen (Sr-CCTO-2) has the highest permittivity and lowest nonlinear coefficient.