A novel Y3ZnAl3SiO12 microwave dielectric ceramic for microwave communication application as substrates

Abstract

Novel microwave dielectric ceramic Y3ZnAl3SiO12 were synthesized by solid-state route. The crystal structure of synthesized samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction and refined with Rietveld method. Microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of Y3ZnAl3SiO12 ceramics were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Hakki–Coleman method. X-ray data display that major phase of Y3ZnAl3SiO12 is isostructural to Y3Al5O12 with a cubic garnet structure and space group of Ia-3d, which is composed of (Al/Si)O4 tetrahedron, (Zn/Al)O6 octahedron and YO8 dodecahedron, besides minor Y2SiO5 secondary phase. The distribution of grain sizes is closer to Gauss distribution. Bulk density of samples has a similar variation curve with Q*f of samples. Y3ZnAl3SiO12 ceramics exhibit excellent microwave dielectric properties: er = 10.2, Q*f = 37938.2 (@9.47 GHz), τ f = −31.7 ppm/°C at sintering temperature of 1500 °C. Our results indicate Y3ZnAl3SiO12 could be a potential material for millimeter wave communication systems as microwave substrates.