Crystal structure, infrared spectra and microwave dielectric properties of a novel low-firing Gd2Zr3(MoO4)9 ceramic

Abstract

A new Gd2Zr3(MoO4)9 (GZM) ceramic was prepared using the solid-state method at a low sintering temperature. A single phase, with trigonal structure in R-3c space group, was confirmed by the X-ray diffractometer. The crystal structure was further investigated through the Rietveld refinement results. Scanning electron microscopy characterized the dense GZM samples sintered at 725–800 °C with homogeneous microstructures. The chemical bonds theory of complex crystals was employed to investigate the structure-property relations of GZM samples in detail. The intrinsic properties were explored by the far-infrared spectrum, and the calculated microwave dielectric properties were in good agreement with the measured values. It could be concluded that the microwave dielectric property of GZM was mainly ascribed to the ion polarization rather electronic. The optimum microwave dielectric properties with a permittivity (εr) of 10.78, a quality factor (Q·f) of 40,945 GHz and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) of −12.26 ppm/°C were achieved in GZM sample sintered at 725 °C.