Sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties of LMZBS glass doped Li3Mg4NbO8 ceramics for LTCC applications

Li3Mg4NbO8 ceramics with x wt% of Li2O–MgO–ZnO–B2O3–SiO2 glass (Li3Mg4NbO8-LMZBSx, x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0) were prepared by the traditional solid-state reaction method. Rietveld refinement and Raman spectra were adopted for crystal structure studies. Based on the experimental results, it is suggested that the permittivity (εr) and the quality factor (Q × f) were mainly associated with the extrinsic factors; while the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) was inversely proportional to the octahedral distortion of Li–O bond and directly proportional to the octahedral distortion of Nb–O bond. Among all the specimens, the sample of x = 1.5 sintered at 950 °C for 5 h exhibited excellent microwave dielectric properties: εr = 14.16, Q × f = 109,704 GHz (at 9.6 GHz), τf = − 31 ± 1 ppm/°C. In addition, good chemical compatibility between the ceramic matrix and Ag electrode also suggested that the Li3Mg4NbO8-LMZBSx ceramic system is potential for low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) applications.