Microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of (1 − y)Li3NbO4+yLi2TiO3(Li2SnO3) ceramics

Phase formation, microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of (1 − y)Li₃NbO₄ + yLi₂TiO₃(Li₂SnO₃) ceramics have been studied in this paper. The structure and microstructure of the compounds were investigated using X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectrometer. The microwave dielectric properties of the ceramics were studied with a network analyzer at the frequency of about 8–12 GHz. Li₃NbO₄ formed ordered solid solutions with the addition of small amount of Li₂TiO₃ (y ≤ 0.2), whereas no solid solution formed with the addition of small amount of Li₂SnO₃. Small amount of Li₂TiO₃ doping suppressed the appearance of impurity phases caused by lithium evaporation for Li₃NbO₄. The Li₂TiO₃ doped compositions with 0.02 ≤ y ≤ 0.08 demonstrated homogeneous and dense microstructure after sintering at 1150 °C/2 h, in contrast the 0.2 ≤ y ≤ 0.6 specimens exhibited porous and subgrains microstructure after sintering at 1250 °C/2 h. Short range ordering was observed in the 0.2 ≤ y ≤ 0.6 compositions. Mechanical mixture phases of Li₃NbO₄ and Li₂SnO₃ based solid solution (Li₂SnO₃ (ss)) existed in the Li₂SnO₃ added specimens_. The dielectric permittivity increased with increasing Li₂TiO₃ addition, but decreased with the increase of Li₂SnO₃ content. All specimens exhibited negative τ_f value for the Li₂TiO₃ added specimens, although its absolute τ_f value decreased with the increase of Li₂TiO₃ addition. Whereas, the τ_f value changed from negative into positive with the increase of Li₂SnO₃ addition. Optimized combined microwave dielectric properties (?_r = 19.8, Q × f = 91,200 GHz, τ_f = −24 ppm/°C and ?_r = 16, Q × f = 75,300 GHz, τ_f = 3 ppm/°C) could be obtained for the Li₂TiO₃ added (y = 0.6) and Li₂SnO₃ added specimens(y = 0.7), respectively. The microwave dielectric properties of the Li₂SnO₃ end member are ?_r = 13.5, Q × f = 61,600 GHz, τ_f = 29 ppm/°C.