Effect of Ca substitution on structure and dielectric properties of bismuth-based microwave ceramics

The effect of the chemical substitution of Ca cation on the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of bismuth-based pyrochlores has been investigated. Broad ranges of solid solutions based on (Bi_3x Zn_2?3x )(Zn _x Nb_2?x )O₇ (x?=?0.56–0.64) were obtained with Ca cation substitution of Zn at A site. The XRD patterns revealed that the substitution of Ca for Zn led to the α–β pyrochlore phase transformation and pure β pyrochlore structure were obtained. The dielectric constants (? _r ) varied slightly with x increasing. The quality factor Q was significantly improved by Ca substitution. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ _f ) was negative and increased with x increasing. (Bi_3x Ca_2?3x )(Zn _x Nb_2?x )O₇(x?=?0.58) ceramic, sintered at 960 °C, exhibits the optimal microwave dielectric properties of ? _r ?～?74, Qf value ～6,457 (at 4.8 GHz), and τ _f ?～??143 ppm/°C.     

Effect of Gd amphoteric substitution on structure and dielectric properties of BaTiO3-based ceramics

BaTiO₃-based ceramics (doped with a small amount of Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Nb⁵⁺, Ca²⁺ and Zr⁴⁺) with various Gd₂O₃ concentrations were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. Effects of Gd₂O₃ doping concentrations on the structure and dielectric properties were investigated. It was deduced from XRD patterns that different substitution sites of Gd³⁺ ions could be affected by Gd₂O₃ doping amount. Gd³⁺ tended to occupy Ba-site when Gd₂O₃ concentration was less than 0.25 mol%. With increasing Gd₂O₃ doping amount to 0.3 mol%, Gd³⁺ substituted into both Ba- and Ti-site which contributed to an obvious improvement on dielectric constant of BaTiO₃-based ceramics. Influences of the Gd³⁺ amphoteric substitution on the improvement of the dielectric constant were discussed based on the self-compensation mechanism.     

Fabrication and properties of 2D EBGs by moulding/demoulding with high permittivity ceramics

Two-dimensional electromagnetic bandgap structures (2D EBGs) are designed and fabricated by moulding/demoulding. A high permittivity and low dielectric loss microwave material, Bi₂O₃-ZnO-Nb₂O₅ (BZN) was used. The impacts of high permittivity on the 2D EBGs’ properties are investigated. As the experiments showed, wide electromagnetic band gap is found in the frequency ranges from 5.6 to 10.6 GHz, and 12.6 to 16.6 GHz. The first gap is greater than 60% of the gap center frequency, while the second gap is 25% of the center frequency. The interval between the two gaps is larger than 2 GHz, and the return loss of both gaps is as large as ?40 dB. This interesting phenomenon of multi band gaps is very useful for diplexers, multi-mode tunable dielectric antennas and resonators. Based on these, expansive applications may be exploited in the future. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulations’.     

The structure and dielectric properties of low temperature sintering barium titanate based x7r ceramics

In this paper we try to do systematic investigation on the structure and dielectric properties of low temperature sintered barium titanate based X7R ceramics, which are doped with rare earth oxide, Nb₂O₅, Co₃O₄ using ZnO–B₂O₃ as the sintering aids. The dielectric ceramic powder can be sintered at the temperature below 950°C to satisfy X7R requirement and also with good permittivity and low dielectric loss. The research strongly suggest that this doped BaTiO₃ based ceramic, which can be sintered at a rather low temperature, may be used in the production of MLCC with low content of Pd in the Ag–Pd electrode, and for sure, the production cost would be greatly reduced.     

Preparation and dielectric characterization of BaLaAlO4 ceramics

In the present work, BaLaAlO₄ ceramics with orthorhombic structure similar to K₂SO₄ in space group P2₁2₁2₁ were prepared by a solid state sintering process. The dense BaLaAlO₄ ceramics with minor amount of secondary phase have a low dielectric loss and a temperature stable dielectric constant with obvious frequency dependence. A dielectric constant around 15 was obtained at 12 GHz in the present ceramics together with a Qf value over 5,000 GHz.     

Fabrication and characterization of micropatterned barium titanate ceramics

A new patterning method combining electron beam (EB) lithography and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) for fabricating micropatterned barium titanate (BaTiO₃) thin films was investigated. At first, resist molds with high resolution were prepared using EB lithography on Pt/Ti/Si substrates. Then BaTiO₃ nanoparticles were deposited on the substrates by EPD from a transparent suspension of monodispersed BaTiO₃ nanoparticles; a mixed solvent of 2-methoxyethonal and acetylacetone with a 9:1 volumetric ratio was used as a dispersion medium. The nanoparticles with an average size of about 10 nm were synthesized at a low temperature of 90 °C by a high concentration sol-gel process. EPD layers superfluously deposited on the resist molds were mechanically polished away, followed by chemically removing the molds in a resist remover to leave micropatterns of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles on the substrates, which were finally sintered to yield micropatterned BaTiO₃ ceramic thin films. The method developed may be used to fabricate other micropatterned electroceramic thin films.     

Preparation and dielectric properties of La doped NBCCTO ceramics

Journal of Electroceramics - CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics have great dielectric constant, excellent temperature stability and good frequency stability. However, due to high dielectric loss, its practical...     

Microstructure and dielectric properties of ferroelectric barium strontium titanate ceramics prepared by hydrothermal method

Ba _x Sr_1-x TiO₃, nanoparticles with different Ba compositions were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The mechanism of hydrothermal reactions was discussed based on DTA/TG, XRD and TEM characterizations. The result showed that perovskite structure was developed through the mutual diffusion between the intermediate phases and TiO₂ phase. The grain size of the Ba_0.77Sr_0.23TiO₃ (BST77) powders was about 20–40 nm. BST ceramics were made from the hydrothermal-derived BST powders and the dielectric properties of the BST ceramics were measured. Due to the small grain size and active surface energy of the BST powders prepared by hydrothermal method, the BST ceramics showed low sintering temperature. It was found that the BST77 ceramics sintered at 1280 °C showed dielectric constant peak dispersion which was believed to be caused by dimension domino effect.     

Colossal dielectric permittivity of BaTiO3-based nanocrystalline ceramics sintered by spark plasma sintering

In pursuit of high permittivity materials for electronic application, there has been a considerable interest recently in the dielectric properties of various perovskite oxides like calcium copper titanate or lanthanum doped barium titanate. When processed in a particular way, this later material present at ambient temperature and at f?=?1 kHz unusual interesting dielectric properties, a so called “colossal” permittivity value up to several 10⁶ with relatively low dielectric losses. Moreover and contrary to what is classically expected and evidenced for this type of materials, no temperature dependence is observed. This behavior is observed in nanopowders based ceramics. An assumption to explain the observed properties is proposed. These results have important technological applications, since these nanoceramics open a new route to the fabrication of very thin dielectric films.     

Fabrication of yttrium aluminum garnet transparent ceramics from yttria nanopowders synthesized by carbonate precipitation

Nanocrystalline yttria powders have been successfully synthesized by using yttrium nitrate as starting salt and ammonium hydrogen carbonate as precipitant. It was found that a small amount of ammonia sulfate in the yttrium nitrate solution can effectively reduce the agglomeration and the resultant powders display good dispersion. Pure cubic phase yttria powders were prepared by calcining the precipitate at 1100 °C for 4 h. The size of the as-prepared yttria powders was about 60 nm in diameter and showed excellent sintering activity. The as-prepared yttria nanopowders and commercial ultrafine alumina powders were used to fabricate YAG ceramics by solid-state reaction method and transparent YAG ceramics have been obtained by vacuum sintering at 1760 °C for 6 h.     

Phase transformation and microwave dielectric properties of BiPO4 ceramics

Monazite-type compounds, BiPO₄ polymorphs were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The phase transformation and microwave dielectric properties of sintered ceramics were investigated using the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and a network analyzer, respectively. The low-temperature phase of BiPO₄ has monoclinic structure, and was transformed into the high-temperature phase with a slight distortion of monoclinic when it is heated above 600^∘C. The effect of the transformation on the microwave dielectric properties was examined. It was found that the dielectric properties of each phase were significantly different. In particular, the high-temperature phase sintered at 950^∘C has good microwave dielectric properties; the relative dielectric constant (ε _r ) = 22, the quality factor (Q× f) = 32,500 GHz and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ _f ) = − 79 ppm/ ^∘C.     

Microwave dielectric properties of low-firing BiNbO4 ceramics with V2O5 substitution

The effect of V₂O₅ substitution on the sintering behavior and the microwave dielectric properties of BiNbO₄ ceramics were studied. The sintering temperatures of Bi(V _x Nb_1?x )O₄ ceramics decrease from 990 to 810°C with x value increasing from 0.002 to 0.064. The size of grains increased with the sintering temperature increasing and decreased with the substitution amount increasing. The dielectric properties are affected by the microstructures very much. The quality factor Q value is from 2500 to 4000 at about frequency?=?5 GHz and reach to the maximum when x?=?0.032. With the different x value, the Q _f values change between 15000 to 20000 GHz; the τ _f values changes between 0 and +20 ppm/°C between temperature range 25～85°C and decreased with the increasing of x value.     

Structural and dielectric properties of BaCexTi1-xO3 ceramics

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we prepare silver nanowires circuit graphics by UV-curing technology. The optimal condition of preparation of the silver nanowires circuit graphics are examined. Experiment results show that the UV-curing technology is a kind of individual, low-cost and environment-friendly method to prepare silver nanowires circuit graphics. The main influence factors on the lines' width are the UV beam power and scanning speed. And we also study the influence of the hot pressing temperature on the resistivity of the circuit graphics. In the experiments, the optimal condition is that the UV beam power is 190 mW and the scanning rate is 6 cm/s, then we get the minimum line width, which is 0.25 mm. The thickness of silver nanowires layer is 100 µm and the hot pressing temperature is 100°C, we will get the sample whose resistivity is 21× 10^?5 Ω·cm.     

Microwave dielectric properties of Mg4Nb2O9 ceramics produced by hydrothermal synthesis

Mg₄Nb₂O₉ ceramics have been prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis in order to reduce the sintering temperature. The sintering and microwave dielectric properties of the hydrothermally processed Mg₄Nb₂O₉ were studied under various sintering temperatures ranging from 900 to 1300°C. The highest Q×f _o value of 26,069 GHz was obtained at the sintering temperature of 1300°C and is attributed to the increased density and appropriate grain growth. τ _f value of ?17.1 ppm/°C was improved by the addition of TiO₂ and τ _f value of 6.7 ppm/°C was obtained at 20 wt% TiO₂. Chemical compatibility of Mg₄Nb₂O₉ with Ag was tested to identity the possibility of using Mg₄Nb₂O₉ for an LTCC application. Since any secondary phase was not observed in the XRD pattern of the mixtures of Mg₄Nb₂O₉ and Ag powder heat treated at 900°C, it was considered that the Mg₄Nb₂O₉ system is applicable to the multilayer microwave devices using Ag as an electrode.     

Sintering and dielectric properties of Al2O3 ceramics doped by TiO2 and CuO

The effects of CuO and TiO₂ additives on the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of Al₂O₃ ceramics were investigated. Al₂O₃ ceramics with CuO and TiO₂ additions can be well sintered to achieve 93∼98% theoretical densities below 1,360 °C due to Ti₄Cu₂O liquid phase sintering effect. The Qf values decreased with increasing CuO and TiO₂ content, due to the formation of the second phase Ti₄Cu₂O. However, the varying behaviors of the dielectric constant (ɛ _r ) and temperature coefficients (τ _f ) were associated with phase constitutions, as a result of the change of CuO and TiO₂content. The τ _f can be shifted close to 0 ppm/°C by controlling the content of CuO and TiO₂. The specimens with 0.5 wt.% CuO and 7 wt.% TiO₂ sintered at 1,360 °C for 4 h showed ɛ _r of 11.8, Qf value of 30,000 GHz, and τ _f of −7 ppm/°C.     

Fabrication of a superconducting flux flow transistor with a serial-channel structure by an AFM lithography method

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become an attractive technique to fabricate nano devices since the observing mechanism is different from fabricating one. We have fabricated the superconducting flux flow transistor (SFFT) with a serial-channel structure using the AFM lithography analyzed the modified surface by the AFM image. We investigated the induced voltage in a serial-channel terminals dependence on the gate current by the I–V measurement system. We performed the numerical simulation to get the theoretical characteristics of the SFFT controlled by the gate current via the modified channel. The transresistance was 0.006 Ω for I_d=51 mA at I_g=5 mA. It is very low transresistance in comparison with SFFTs fabricated by the other processes, however our results show that the SFFT with a serial-channel structure is effectively fabricated by an AFM lithography method.     

Fabrication,modelling and use of porous ceramics for ultrasonic transducer applications

Porous ceramics are of interest for ultrasonic transducer applications. Porosity allows to decrease acoustical impedance, thus improving transfer of acoustical energy to water or biological tissues. For underwater applications, the d_hg_h figure of merit can also be improved as compared to dense materials. In the case of high frequency transducers, namely for high resolution medical imaging, thick film technology can be used. The active films are generally porous and this porosity must be controlled. An unpoled porous PZT substrate is also shown to be an interesting solution since it can be used in a screen-printing process and as a backing for the transducer. This paper describes the fabrication process to obtain such materials, presents microstructure analysis as well as functional properties of materials. Modelling is also performed and results are compared to measurements. Finally, transducer issues are addressed through modelling and design of several configurations. The key parameters are identified and their effect on transducer performance is discussed. A comparison with dense materials is performed and results are discussed to highlight in which cases porous piezoceramics can improve transducer performance, and improvements are quantified.