Study of the structural and dielectric properties of xLiFe5O8−(100−x) LiNbO3 composites, processed using microwave energy

Ceramics with high dielectric permittivity are of intense interest due to their enabling role in the miniaturization of electronic devices. In particular, lithium niobate (LiNbO3), due to its remarkable pyroelectrical, piezoelectrical and photorefractive properties, is an important material for a large variety of technological applications. Lithium ferrite (LiFe5O8) is another very interesting ferromagnetic material due to its square hysteresis loop, high Curie temperature. It is of technology importance as a low-cost substitute of garnet ferrites in several devices. In this work we present the studies on the composite material with LiNbO3 and LiFe5O8 here described by (x) LiFe5O8−(100−x) LiNbO3 with x = 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 (wt%). The structure and the dielectric properties of the samples, processed in a domestic microwave oven and by the conventional solid state method, are discussed. The influence of thermal treatment time and temperature was investigated.