Work

Entropy engineering for advanced microwave ceramics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Relative dielectric constant (εr), quality factor (Q×f), and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) are pivotal parameters for microwave dielectrics. A common strategy for tuning these parameters involves modifying the cation-oxygen octahedral geometry. However, conventional approaches, such as foreign-element doping or solid-solution, narrow the designable compositional space, resulting in insufficient tunability of octahedral structural attributes, which limits the synergistic properties modulation. Here, we introduce configurational entropy as a structural index to simultaneously regulate central-cation displacement, octahedral distortion, and M-O bond covalency, enabling synergistic improvement of microwave properties. Our results show that cation displacement, and octahedral distortion are positively correlated with configurational entropy, whereas M-O bond covalency shows a non‑monotonic trend, consistent with the systematic modulation of εr, τf, and Q×f. The optimized composition exhibits εr ~ 22.3, high Q×f (~ 140,000 GHz), and near-zero τf (−14.8 ppm/°C) in NiNb2O6-based medium-entropy ceramics. Furthermore, we fabricate a prototype dielectric antenna that achieves broad frequency selectivity within the 5-8.5 GHz range and high energy conversion efficiency (>99.98 %), demonstrating its potential applications. Entropy engineering, as a design strategy, regulates oxygen octahedral geometry to optimize dielectric constant, quality factor, and thermal stability. The authors fabricate a dielectric antenna, demonstrating the potential applications.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-77398-z