Composite screen‐printed thick films for high dielectric constant devices: Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂–CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ films

Abstract In this paper, we did a study of the effect of the presence of BIT (Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂) in the dielectric and optical properties of the CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) thick films. The films were prepared by the solid sate procedure. Mechanical alloying followed by the solid state procedure has been used successfully to produce powders of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) and BIT (Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂) to be used in the composites. We also look at the effect of the grain size of the BIT and CCTO in the final properties of the composite film. The samples were studied using X‐Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman and infrared spectroscopy. We also did a study of the dielectric function (K) and dielectric loss (D) of the films. The role played by the grain size of CCTO and BIT in the dielectric constant and structural properties of the films are discussed. These measurements confirm the potential use of such materials for small high dielectric planar devices. These films are also attractive for capacitor applications and certainly for microelectronics, microwave devices (mobile phones for example), where the miniaturization of the devices is crucial. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:771–777, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers