Crystal structure, far-infrared spectroscopy, and microwave dielectric properties of two novel vanadates CaRECeV3O12 (RE = Nd, Sm)

Two novel low-εr CaRECeV3O12 (RE = Nd, Sm) microwave dielectric ceramics were prepared to utilize the solid-state method. According to XRD and Raman spectroscopy data, the CaRECeV3O12 (RE = Nd, Sm) ceramics had a tetragonal zircon-type with an I41/amd space group. Dense CaNdCeV3O12 and CaSmCeV3O12 ceramics sintered at 1225 °C and 1200 °C showed εr ∼11.85 ± 0.1 and 11.33 ± 0.1, Q × f ∼40,100 ± 500 GHz and 43,290 ± 500 GHz, τf ∼ −27.2 ± 0.5 ppm/°C and −22.4 ± 0.5 ppm/°C, along with αL of 9.4 ppm/°C and 8.5 ppm/°C, respectively. The measured εr and corrected εr(corr) values were larger than εr(C-M) (9.41 and 9.47) in CaNdCeV3O12 and CaSmCeV3O12 due to the cations being, on average, under-bonded and the overall structures being in a slightly expanded state. The slightly higher || value of CaNdCeV3O12 led to its higher εr(corr) value, even though it had a lower αD/Vm value. The sign and magnitude of τf values for CaNdCeV3O12 and CaSmCeV3O12 were mainly determined by their positive temperature coefficients of dielectric polarizability ταm of +36.2 ppm/°C and +32.1 ppm/°C, respectively. The inherent dielectric constant and dielectric loss were examined using far-infrared reflectivity spectra, Raman spectra, and the packing fraction.