Low-firing and microwave dielectric properties of Ba[(Ni0.6Zn0.4)0 .33Nb0.67]O3 ceramics doped with Sb2O5 and B2O3

The purpose of this study was to reduce the sintering temperature of Ba[(Ni0.6Zn0.4)0.33Nb0.67]O3 ceramics by doping with Sb2O5 and B2O3. Phase formation and dielectric properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and the post resonator method (10 GHz), respectively. It was observed that an addition of 1 mol % Sb2O5 or 1 mol % B2O3 was very effective in reducing the sintering temperature from 1500 to 1300 °C. However, these samples showed a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency far from 0 ppm/°C. The two additions produced a temperature coefficients with opposite signs. The combination of the two dopants produced a temperature coefficient very close to 0 ppm/°C as well as a better quality factor.