Spinel-trirutile microwave dielectric ceramics with high Q and excellent temperature stability based on MgO-Al2O3-Ta2O5 ternary systems

(1-x)MgAl2O4-xMgTa2O6 composite ceramics based on the MgO-Al2O3-Ta2O5 pseudoternary phase diagram were prepared by the solid-state reaction. MgAl2O4 and MgTa2O6 could coexist due to their different crystal structures. MgAl2O4 inhibited the rapid growth of MgTa2O6 grains, and dense microstructures (ρ > 95%) with a uniform grain size distribution was obtained, with an optimal densification temperature of 1550 - 1575 °C. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) and quality factor (Q×f) were optimized by introducing MgTa2O6 phases with low dielectric loss and positive τf. In addition, the partial solid solutions of Al3+ into Ta5+ sites resulted in loosening bonds within [Al/TaO6] octahedra and abnormally large polarizabilities, which was confirmed by the decrease in VTa-O and the redshift of A1 g(Ta-O) mode. Consequently, the relative permittivity (εr) and τf values of MgAl2O4-MgTa2O6 composite ceramics were further enhanced, exceeding the predicted ones. The 0.6MgAl2O4-0.4MgTa2O6 composition sintered at 1550 °C achieved excellent performance, with a near-zero τf value of 3.3 ± 1.7 ppm/°C, a low εr of 16.4 ± 0.3 and an ultra-high Q×f of 179,000 ± 6700 GHz @ 8.94 ± 0.04 GHz. These findings hold promising applications in the field of 5 G/6 G high-frequency communication.