Structure and properties of low temperature sintered ZnTa2O6 microwave dielectric ceramics

ZnTa₂O₆ microwave dielectric ceramics have been prepared using ZnTa₂O₆ nano-powders synthesized by sol–gel processing in this study. The crystal structure and microstructure of the ZnTa₂O₆ powders and ceramics were characterized by XRD and SEM techniques. ZnTa₂O₆ ceramics can be densified at a lower sintering temperature of 1200 °C. Microwave dielectric properties show that both of Q × f and ?_r values are lower than those of ceramics prepared by solid state route, and the τ_f values do not show different from that of solid state route. ZnTa₂O₆ ceramics sintered at 1200 °C exhibit good microwave dielectric properties: Q × f = 50,600 GHz, ?_r = 35.12 and τ_f = 9.69 ppm/°C.