Influence of Li2CO3 and ZnO Nanoparticle on Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Low-Temperature Sintering LiZnTiBi Ferrites for High-Frequency Applications

LiZnTi ferrite ceramics with high saturation flux density (Bs), large remanence ratio (Br/Bs) and high saturation magnetization (4πMs) is a vital material for high frequency devices. In the present work, we prepared uniform and compact LiZnTiBi ferrite with large average grain size (>30μm) at 900°C. Firstly, the hybrid materials, including Li2CO3, ZnO, TiO2, Bi2O3 and Fe2O3, were pre-sintered at 850°C at O2 atmosphere. Next, composite additives composited of Li2CO3 and ZnO nanoparticles were added to control grain growth. The influences of the Li2CO3 and nano-ZnO (LZ) on the microstructure and magnetic properties of LiZnTiBi ferrite, especially for grain size, have been analyzed. SEM images demonstrated that moderate LZ additives (x=0.75 wt%) can prevent abnormal grains. Also, the ferrite samples possess compact microstructures. The phenomenon indicated that the LZ additive is a good sintering aid for low-temperature sintering LiZnTiBi ferrites. XRD patterns showed that all samples have a pure spinel phase. The magnetic properties, including Bs, Br/Bs and 4πMs, have weak change when LZ additives were added. However, due to smaller average grain size, the coercivity (Hc) gradually increased. Thus, a low-temperature sintering LiZnTiBi ferrite with high saturation flux density (Bs=311.10 mT), large remanence ratio (Br/Bs=0.86), low coercivity (Hc=244.6 A/m) and high saturation magnetization (Ms=75.40) was obtained when 1.00 wt% LZ additive was added. More important, the LiZnTiBi ferrite possessed uniform average grain. Such a sintering method (i.e., adding composite additive to control abnormal grain) should also promote synthesis of other advanced ceramics for practical applications.