INFLUENCE OF ZNO EVAPORATION ON THE MICROWAVE DIELECTRIC-PROPERTIES OF LA(ZN1 2TI1/2)O-3/

Microwave dielectric properties of the complex perovskite compound La( Zn1/2Ti1/2)O-3 (LZT) and the effect of ZnO evaporation on the quality factor were examined. The results show that ZnO evaporation was relate d with the increase in quality factor. The comparison between weight l oss and XRD data shows that defects were induced in the samples sinter ed in air. To investigate the correlation between quality factor and Z nO evaporation, samples sintered in both air and a ZnO atmosphere were examined. The characterization techniques used for this investigation were XRD and TEM. Samples sintered in a ZnO atmosphere have lower qua lity factor than those sintered in air. The results were compared to t he previously reported case of Ba(Zn1/3Ta2/3)O-3. The variation of qua lity factor of LZT samples sintered in a ZnO atmosphere was not relate d to the degree of cation ordering, lattice distortion and second phas e. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.