Influence of non-stoichiometry on the structure and properties of Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 microwave dielectrics.: IV.: Tuning τf and the part size dependence of Q x f

High Q ceramics of Ba3W2O9 (BW)-substituted Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3) O-3 (BZN) were prepared with a zero tau(f) through the partial substitution of Zn by Ni and Co. The small concentrations of B-site vacancies introduced by the substitution of BW accelerated the kinetics and stability of the cation ordering and lowered the sintering temperature. Dense, zero tau(f), ordered solid solutions such as 0.99Ba(Zn0.3Co0.7)(1/3)Nb2/3O3-0.01BW with epsilon(r) = 34.4 and Q x f = 82 000 at similar to 8 GHz could be obtained after sintering at 1380 degrees C for 5 h and annealing at 1300 degrees C for 24 h. Partially ordered ceramics in the Zn/Co and Zn/Ni solid solutions show a large gradient in the ordering throughout the pellets, which produces a resonant frequency dependence of their Q x f value. The ordering gradient is associated with the increased constraints on the growth of the 1:2 ordered structure within the interior of larger and thicker pellets and can be minimized by extended annealing.