Sintering behaviour and microwave dielectric properties of sol–gel synthesised (Zn_0·4Mg_0·6)₂SiO₄ ceramics

Abstract

The microwave dielectric (Zn_0·4Mg_0·6)₂SiO₄ (ZMS) nanopowder was prepared by sol–gel method. The ZMS ceramics were sintered at different temperatures, and their microwave dielectric properties were evaluated. The results showed that highly reactive nanosized ZMS powders were successfully synthesised at 850°C in air with particle size of 40–50 nm. The sol–gel process lowered the sintering temperature and broadened the sintering temperature range (1125–1275°C) of ZMS ceramics effectively. When sintered at 1125°C for 4 h, good microwave performance parameters of ZMS ceramics were achieved as follows: Qf = 96 000 GHz (f = 9·5 GHz), ϵ_r = 6·8 and τ_f = −47×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹.

Keywords:

• Sol–gel method
• (Zn_0·4Mg_0·6)₂SiO₄
• Nanopowder synthesis
• Microwave dielectric properties

This work was supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET) and 863 program (grant no. 2007AA03Z423) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.