Effects of rare earth oxides on phase composition and microwave dielectric properties of (Zn0.5Ti0.5)1−xLnxNbO4 ceramic

In this study, effects of rare earth oxides Ln2O3 (Ln = Ce, Sm, La, Nd) on crystal structure, phase compositions, and microwave dielectric properties of ixiolite-type Zn0.5Ti0.5NbO4 ceramic were studied based on powder X-ray diffraction patterns and Rietveld refinement methods. Addition of Ln3+ cations brought in a different secondary phase, which strongly relied on the types of Ln elements and their contents. The results show that developments of microwave dielectric properties of (Zn0.5Ti0.5)1−xLnxNbO4 ceramics are mainly dependent on phase compositions and phase contents. Temperature-stable microwave dielectric properties of (Zn0.5Ti0.5)1−xLnxNbO4 (Ln = Sm, x = 0.5) were achieved: er = 41.01, Q × f = 8583 GHz, τf = 3.60 ppm/°C, sintered at 1200 °C for 4 h.