Low-temperature synthesis of nano-crystalline magnesium titanate materials by the sol–gel method

Nano-crystalline magnesium titanate materials were synthesized at low temperatures by the sol–gel method, using butyl titante and magnesium nitrate as precursors. Thermal decomposition behavior of the gel was analyzed by thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis. Crystallinity of MgTiO3 powders was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The average grain size of MgTiO3 crystals was between 10 and 30 nm at 600 °C and MgTi2O5 disappeared completely at 700 °C. At the sintering temperature of 1200 °C, the MgTiO3 ceramics which made from the nano-powders calcined at 600 °C achieved excellent dielectric properties: ɛr = 16.6, Qf = 42600 GHz (f = 7 GHz), τf = −41 ppm/°C.