Synthesis and integration into miniature dielectric resonator antennas of low-loss dielectric strontium tantalate ceramics
JULIAN M. 1, LE GENDRE L. 1, BENZERGA R. 1, HAYDOURA M. 1, SHARAIHA A. 1, CHEVIRE F. 2, LE PAVEN C. 1
1 Univ Rennes, CNRS, Institut d'Electronique et des Technologies du numéRique (IETR-UMR 6164), Saint Brieuc, France; 2 Univ Rennes, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR-UMR 6226), Rennes, France
With 5G networks beginning to come online around the world, providing more connectivity, an ever-increasing number of wireless devices and sensors will utilize antennas to communicate within this network. Miniaturization of dielectric resonator antennas (DRA) for these devices, operating about 3.5 GHz, requires both high permittivity and low losses. This work explores the utilization of bulk tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) phase β’-SrTa2O6 ceramics to satisfy this application. Through an optimized pressureless solid-state sintering process ceramics are produced with relative densities ~90%, while monitoring for abnormal grain growth and maintaining phase purity, to reducing the dielectric losses. High frequency dielectric characterizations are performed around between 3-5 GHz using a resonant cavity, showing relative permittivities between 80-100, dielectric losses around 4x10-3, and a temperature coefficient of 280 ppm/?. The ceramics are integrated onto DRA devices to characterize their performance, through gain and efficiency, in a near-field measurement base.