Enhancement microwave dielectric properties of La(Mg0.5Sn0.5)O3 ceramics by substituting La3+ with Sm3+

The microwave dielectric properties of La1-xSmx(Mg0.5Sn0.5)O-3 ceramics were examined with a view to their exploitation for mobile communication. The La1-xSmx(Mg0.5Sn0.5)O-3 ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state method with various sintering temperatures. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the La0.97Sm0.03(Mg0.5Sn0.5)O-3 ceramics revealed no significant variation of phase with sintering temperatures. Apparent density of 6.59 g/cm(3), dielectric constant (epsilon(r)) of 19.9, quality factor (Q x f) of 70,200 GHz. and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (tau(f)) of -77 ppm/degrees C were obtained for La0.97Sm0.03(Mg0.5Sn0.5)O-3 ceramics that were sintered at 1500 degrees C for 4 h. The dielectric constant, and tau(f) of La0.97Sm0.03(Mg0.5Sn0.5)O-3 ceramics were almost independent with the sintering temperature as the sintering temperature varied from 1450 to 1600 degrees C. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.