Effect of Ni Electrode on the Characteristics of BaTiO<sub>3</sub> Based PTCR Ceramics

Abstract

In order to achieve cost-effective inner electrodes for the multilayer BaTiO3-based ceramics having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTCR), we fabricated Ni paste based on Ni powder and investigated the effect of Ni electrode on the performance of semiconducting BaTiO3 ceramics. We adjusted the particle size of Ni powder (0.2μm, 0.6μm and 1μm) and incorporated them as the electrodes into both single-layer and laminated BaTiO3 PTCR devices. The device samples were sintered at 1200oC for 30min in reducing atmosphere consisting of N2 and H2 (97:3 by volume ratio), and went through a post-sintering in-air heat treatment at 700-900oC in air which is necessary for the PTCR effect. The results indicate that Ni powder with lager particle size are more stable against post-sintering heat treatment, and the heating temperature needs to be optimized to overcome the trade-off between ohmic behaviors of Ni electrodes and the PTCR effect of BaTiO3-based semiconducting ceramics.