Two
garnet-type electronic functional ceramics, Y2CaBGa4O12 (B = Zr, Sn), are reported, including their
preparation process, microwave dielectric properties, and bonding
properties. Acceptable microwave dielectric properties of εr = 12.1 ± 0.1, Q × f = 85,900 ± 2000 GHz, and τf = −45.5
± 1.5 ppm/°C for Y2CaZrGa4O12 and εr = 10.6 ± 0.1, Q × f = 95,750 ± 2000 GHz, and τf = −53.1
± 1.8 ppm/°C for Y2CaSnGa4O12 were achieved at 1450 °C. Compared with the ideal bond lengths,
Ca–O, Zr–O, and Sn–O bonds are compressed, whereas
the Y–O, Ga(1)–O, and Ga(2)–O bonds are in an
expanded state. The positive weighted average difference factors (⟨d⟩) indicate that the ions of Y2CaZrGa4O12 (0.023 v.u.) and Y2CaSnGa4O12 (0.015 v.u.) are in an underbonded state on average,
and the overall structures are in a slightly expanded state. The ionicity
and energy of the bonds in Y2CaBGa4O12 ceramics were analyzed by the dielectric theory of chemical bonds.
Compared to Y2CaSnGa4O12, the larger
εr in Y2CaZrGa4O12 comes down to the combined effect of the larger ionic polarizability
of Zr4+ and a more substantial rattling effect, which also
causes its τf to move toward the near-zero direction.