Ba6-3XNd8+2XTi18O54 Microwave dielectric resonators

Abstract The Ba6-3xNd8+2xTi18O54 solid solution (BNT) is well established as a useful microwave resonator material due to its high dielectric constant (er), high quality factor (Q = 1/tanδ), and tunable temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf). Its crystal structure is similar to that of the tungsten bronzes, containing large pentagonal channels parallel to [001], which are only partly occupied by the divalent species. These pentagonal sites are separated by Nd+3 and TiO6 octahedra arranged in an essentially perovskite-like manner. Ceramics of this phase have been processed in this study by a mixed-oxide route, and the variation in properties caused by doping with either Ca, Sr, or Pb was investigated. Most samples showed a multiphase character, with Nd4Ti9O24 (ss) being the main secondary phase. For × < 0.75, single-phase BNT was always obtained, while phase purity was only attained at 1400°C when × = 0.75. Doping with PbO was found to usefully reduce τf whilst leaving both τr and Q at reasonab...