Cold sintering of microwave dielectric ceramics and devices

• Published in: Journal of materials research Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 333 - 349
• Main Authors: Wang, Dawei, Li, Linhao, Jiang, Juan, Lu, Zhilun, Wang, Ge, Song, Kaixin, Zhou, Di, Reaney, Ian M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.01.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied and Technical Physics; Biomaterials; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cold; Cold pressing; Cold sintering; Dissimilar materials; Electronic components; External pressure; High temperature; Inorganic Chemistry; Invited Feature Paper-Review; Liquid phases; Materials Engineering; Materials research; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Melting points; Nanotechnology; Sintering; Wireless communication systems
• ISSN: 0884-2914; 2044-5326
• DOI: 10.1557/s43578-020-00029-w

Microwave (MW) dielectric ceramics are used in numerous electronic components for modern wireless communication systems, including antennas, resonators, capacitors and filters. However, to date, MW ceramics are manufactured by an energy-intensive, conventional high-temperature (> 1000 °C) sintering technology and thus cannot be co-sintered with low melting point and base electrodes (Ag, Al, etc., < 1000 °C), nor directly integrated with polymers (< 200 °C). Cold sintering is able to densify ceramics at < 200 °C via a combination of external pressure and a transient liquid phase, reducing the energy consumed and facilitating greater integration with dissimilar materials. This review outlines the basics of MW ceramics alongside the mechanism of cold sintering. Recent developments in cold sintering of MW ceramics, composites and devices are described, emphasizing new materials and progress towards component/device fabrication. Future prospects and critical issues for advancing cold-sintered MW materials and devices, such as unclear mechanism, low Q  ×  f values and poor mechanical properties, are discussed. Graphic abstract