Zinc titanates dielectric ceramics prepared by sol-gel process

Abstract

Zn2TiO4 and ZnTiO3 powders were prepared by sol-gel method using titanium isopropoxide and zinc nitrate hexahydrate. Thermal decomposition and calcination of dried gel were investigated by TG, XRD and SEM analysis. It was determined that decomposition of xerogel accompanied by amorphous titania forming followed by zinc oxide and solid state zinc titanates formation. The addition of acetylacetone increased homogeneity of zinc oxide in titania xerogel, altered the structure of gel, but reduced sinterability due to agglomeration. Sol-gel coating technique was applied to obtain single phase ZnTiO3 ceramic at the temperature below 950 degrees C. ZnTiO3 ceramic consisted of Zn3Ti2O7 and rutile phases at higher sintering temperature. Zinc titanates ceramics were characterized by microwave dielectric properties.