PZT Dielectric Ceramic Characterization for Application in Nonlinear Transmission Lines

Abstract

Nonlinear dielectric lines have been tested for use in RF generation. Although they have presented a reasonable success in the frequency range between 250 and 400 MHz, their main limitation is the dielectric losses of barium titanate (BT) tiles used as nonlinear medium in these lines, which prevents from achieving higher frequencies. The solution for this appears to be the search for a new dielectric. Herein, we are proposing the use of a piezoelectric titanate-based ceramics known as PZT (lead zirconate titanate), which appears to have lower dielectric losses than BT slabs. In this paper, loss characterization tests of the PZT ceramics are compared with BT in the MHz frequency range. Also, we have investigated and compared the nonlinearity properties of the dielectrics by varying the DC applied voltage and temperature.