Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by the National Science Foundation via the Research Experience for Undergraduates Site: Materials for Society (Award Nos. DMR 1658076 and 1950305) and by Boise State University.
Abstract
Conventional ceramic processing techniques use high-temperature sintering to achieve high degrees of densification in ceramic compacts; however, this process uses a significant amount of energy. Room-temperature fabrication (RTF) of ceramic materials presents a promising energy-efficient alternative, which effectively eliminates the need to use a furnace. It also allows for cofiring of materials with lower sintering temperatures; however, the multiphase composition and hygroscopic nature of pellets produced using this method make fabricating functional ceramics a challenge. Our goal is to fabricate capacitors with properties comparable to those produced via conventional techniques. Composite pellets composed of the dielectric PbZrxTi1-xO3 (PZT) and Ba1-xSrxTiO3 (BST) perovskite ceramics and Li2MoO4 binder will be synthesized via RTF. The volume fraction of binder material and ceramic particle size distribution and composition will be varied to minimize porosity and optimize relative permittivity, which will be measured using an LCR meter at temperatures ranging from -60 — 150°C.
Room-Temperature Fabrication of Dielectric Ceramics
Conventional ceramic processing techniques use high-temperature sintering to achieve high degrees of densification in ceramic compacts; however, this process uses a significant amount of energy. Room-temperature fabrication (RTF) of ceramic materials presents a promising energy-efficient alternative, which effectively eliminates the need to use a furnace. It also allows for cofiring of materials with lower sintering temperatures; however, the multiphase composition and hygroscopic nature of pellets produced using this method make fabricating functional ceramics a challenge. Our goal is to fabricate capacitors with properties comparable to those produced via conventional techniques. Composite pellets composed of the dielectric PbZrxTi1-xO3 (PZT) and Ba1-xSrxTiO3 (BST) perovskite ceramics and Li2MoO4 binder will be synthesized via RTF. The volume fraction of binder material and ceramic particle size distribution and composition will be varied to minimize porosity and optimize relative permittivity, which will be measured using an LCR meter at temperatures ranging from -60 — 150°C.