Effect of Neodymium on Optical Bandgap and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Barium Zirconate Ceramic

The ceramics with general formula Ba(1−x) Nd(2x/3)ZrO3 (x = 0.0,0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.1) were prepared by solid-state reaction. The phase formation of the powders was analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-Raman (FT-Raman), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. XRD patterns revealed that all powders show a perovskite-type cubic structure with space group Pm-3m. FT-Raman and FTIR spectra suggested the formation of higher degree of symmetry in the crystal. The optical bandgap was found to be decreasing while Urbach energy was found to be increasing with an increase of Nd3+ content. The surface morphology of sintered pellets was studied by scanning electron microscope. Microwave dielectric constant and quality factor were investigated by the TE01δ mode dielectric resonator method. The microwave dielectric constant and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency decreases with increase in of Nd3+ content. The irregular nature of quality factor (Q × f) was observed due to the extrinsic losses in materials. The dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) characteristics were investigated experimentally and numerically using a monopole antenna through an infinite ground plane and Ansoft’s high-frequency structure simulator software, respectively. The resonant frequency and bandwidth of DRAs were also investigated for the ceramics.