Studies on dielectric oxide materials containing niobium and tantalum

Abstract

There are now many advanced materials, which have been discovered with unique dielectric properties having been designed with an eye to specific applications. One of the areas of current interest to the material scientist and solid state chemist is to find new materials suitable for use as dielectric resonators in microwave applications and to tailor its properties. Among them the ABO₃ type perovskite oxides and the AB₂O₆ (columbite/trirutile) type of oxides where B is either Nb or Ta have been pursued vigorously in the recent past. There is a continuous interest to optimise the dielectric properties by suitable doping at the A-site, B-site and the B' site of the perovskite related A(B_1/3B'⅔O₃) structure. In addition there is an increasing demand to discover alternate routes of synthesis, which would afford these oxides at much lower temperatures. We discuss our recent results on some of the above materials.