In modern wireless communication systems, high-speed signal transmission and precise filtering rely heavily on three key parameters of microwave dielectric ceramics: an appropriate relative permittivity ( ε r ) to meet device miniaturization or signal transmission speed requirements, a high Q × f value to ensure low signal loss and high frequency selectivity, and a near‑zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency ( τ f ) to mitigate interference with signal stability caused by ambient temperature fluctuations.
However, several critical gaps remain in microwave dielectric ceramics research. In terms of property characterization, accurate measurement of extremely low loss is limited by conductor loss and spurious mode interference. Regarding theoretical mechanisms, the microscopic physical picture of microwave loss and temperature coefficient has long remained fragmented, lacking a complete and unified theoretical framework. In sample preparation, conventional high‑temperature sintering (> 1000 °C) consumes substantial energy and is incompatible with co‑firing with low‑melting‑point metal electrodes, constraining device integration. In materials design, although machine learning offers a new avenue, its application in microwave dielectric ceramics is restricted by small datasets, a lack of physics‑informed descriptors, and poor model interpretability.
Recently, a team from 14 institutions in China published a comprehensive review in Journal of Advanced Ceramics on May 13, 2026. This paper covers five dimensions ranging from fundamental characterization to practical applications, and comprehensively reviews the latest advances in microwave dielectric ceramics research.
The team published their work in Journal of Advanced Ceramics on May 13, 2026.
Standardized resonant methods enable reliable evaluation of the dielectric properties of low-loss materials, with measurement errors for ε r and tan δ below 1% and 10 –5 , respectively. Accurate measurements establish the foundation for quantitatively describing the mechanisms of microwave dielectric response. In recent years, dielectric theory of crystal structure, lattice dynamics, defect analysis, and the cation rattling effect have revealed the microscopic mechanisms and regulation strategies of dielectric loss and temperature coefficient from the perspectives of chemical bonding, anharmonic lattice vibrations, and dielectric relaxation behavior. Furthermore, advanced cold sintering processes achieve densification below 300 °C, greatly reducing energy consumption while enabling co‑sintering with polymers, glasses, and low‑melting‑point electrodes. Taking application scenarios such as substrates, dielectric resonator antennas, and metamaterials as examples, the transition from materials to devices is clearly illustrated. Finally, incorporating physics‑informed descriptors and processing parameters into machine learning models significantly improves prediction accuracy and model interpretability, accelerating the design and optimization of microwave dielectric ceramics.
Nevertheless, many difficulties and challenges remain in microwave dielectric ceramics research. First, as operating frequencies move into the millimeter‑wave and sub‑terahertz ranges, dielectric loss increases sharply. It is necessary to develop ultra‑low‑loss materials based on a deeper understanding of loss mechanisms, and to advance corresponding characterization techniques. Moreover, maintaining nanoscale uniform microstructures and stable properties in large‑scale production remains very challenging. In terms of materials design, comprehensive and high‑quality datasets need to be constructed, along with interpretable machine learning models that can be applied across different material systems. Finally, integrated application scenarios require consideration of the compatibility of ceramics with other materials, with matching of coefficients of thermal expansion and long‑term stability of properties being particularly important. Breakthroughs in these areas will further consolidate the key position of microwave dielectric ceramics in next‑generation wireless communications and related fields.
About Author
Hongyu Yang is currently a lecturer at the School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology in Xidian University. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. He mainly engages in the research of microwave dielectric ceramics, multilayer piezoelectric actuators and sensors, new energy materials and devices, and machine learning. He has published more than 20 papers in peer-reviewed international journals in the past five years. He also serves as a member of the Editorial Committee of Journal of Advanced Ceramics.
Funding
This work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi (No. 2025CY-YBXM-145); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52161145401 and 52562015); the Natural Science Foundation and the Project of Science and Technology Program of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Nos. 2024GXNSFFA010013 and AB24010116); the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Special Project (Task No. Guike AA24263001); the “Leading Geese” Research and Development Program of the Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province (No. 2023C01183); the Tsinghua University State Key Laboratory of New Ceramic Materials Project (No. 2025QHTC-ZZKYB002); the Opening Project of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing for Ecological Aluminum Industry (No. GXGMEA202404), and the Guangxi BaGui Young Scholars Funding, and Guangxi Special Appointed Experts Funding.
About Journal of Advanced Ceramics
Journal of Advanced Ceramics (JAC) is an international academic journal that presents the state-of-the-art results of theoretical and experimental studies on the processing, structure, and properties of advanced ceramics and ceramic-based composites. JAC is Fully Open Access, monthly published by Tsinghua University Press, and exclusively available via SciOpen . JAC’s 2024 IF is 16.6, ranking in Top 1 (1/34, Q1) among all journals in “Materials Science, Ceramics” category, and its 2024 CiteScore is 25.9 (5/130) in Scopus database. ResearchGate homepage: https://www.researchgate.net/journal/Journal-of-Advanced-Ceramics-2227-8508
Journal of Advanced Ceramics
A review of microwave dielectric ceramics: From fundamental mechanisms and property regulation to advanced preparation, applications, and data-driven discovery
13-May-2026