Synthesis and low temperature densification of (Zr0.8Sn0.2)TiO4 ceramics with improved dielectric properties

A conventional solid-stated reaction was used to synthesize the (Zr0.8Sn0.2)TiO4 powders with varying pre-sintering temperature parameters. Through evaluating the synthetical properties of sintered ceramics prepared by different calcining methods, R3 route with a soaking time of 1.5 h and cooling rate of 3 °C min−1 was determined as the optimal pre-sintering process. Subsequently, La2O3/CBS additives were added into ZST powders, leading to depression of sintering temperature and additional performance improvements, as long as the additive was supplemented in proper weight percent. Nevertheless, excessive additives deteriorated the microstructures of ZST samples, resulting in the decrease of dielectric properties. In this work, the phase contents, microstructures, sintered densities, dielectric performances, and sintering characteristics of ZST specimens were comprehensively studied. A near-zero τf = − 3.69 ppm °C−1 associated with optimal dielectric performances of εr = 40.08, Q×f = 42600 GHz (f = 5.54 GHz) was achieved for doped specimen with 0.25 wt% La2O3 + 0.25 wt% CBS additions sintered at 1280 °C for 4 h.