A low-firing microwave dielectric material in Li₂O-ZnO-Nb ₂O₅ system

LiZnNbO₄ ceramic was fabricated by the conventional solid state reaction method and its microwave dielectric properties were reported for the first time. The phase structure, microstructure, and sintering behavior were also investigated. The LiZnNbO₄ ceramic could be well densified at around 950 °C and demonstrated high performance microwave dielectric properties with a low relative permittivity ~ 14.6, a high quality factor (resonant frequency/dielectric loss) ~ 47, 200 GHz (at 8.7 GHz), and a negative temperature coefficient of resonant frequency approzmiately -64.5 ppm/°C. The LiZnNbO₄ ceramic is chemically compatible with Ag electrode material at its sintering temperature. It can be a promising microwave dielectric material for low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology.