Sintering behavior and microwave dielectric characteristics of ZnTiNb2O8 ceramics achieved by reaction sintering of ZnO–TiO2–Nb2O5 nanosized powders

Sintering behavior, microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of ZnTiNb2O8 (ZTN) ceramics prepared by reaction-sintering method were investigated. The prepared ceramic samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microwave dielectric measurements. All samples prepared at sintering temperatures ranging from 1025 to 1125 °C exhibit a single ixiolite phase and their relative densities range from ~86.5 % to ~99 %. The variation trend of permittivity and Q×f value was in accordance with variation trend of relative density. Pure ixiolite ZTN ceramic sintered at 1075 °C for 5 h exhibits good microwave dielectric properties with a permittivity about 36.7, Q×f value about 54,000 GHz, and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency about −70.4 ppm/°C. The obtained results demonstrated that the reaction-sintering process is a simple and effective method to prepare the ZnTiNb2O8 ceramics for passive microwave dielectric devises.