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Improvement of properties of ZnO varistors by low-temperature two-step sintering method

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Abstract

In order to reduce the volatilization of Bi2O3 in the sintering process due to low melting point, and improve the microstructure uniformity of samples obtained by ball milling, ZnO–Bi2O3 varistor ceramics were prepared by two-step sintering method with sintering temperature lower than 1000 °C. This two-step method was contrary to most previous research, which owed lower turning point temperature T1. The samples were first heated up to T1(T1 = 750 °C, 800 °C and 850 °C, respectively) before sintering at T2(T2 = 950 °C), while T1 was selected based on the sintering characteristics. Samples prepared by traditional one-step sintering were used as reference. Microstructure and electrical properties of ceramics were investigated to discuss the enhanced effect of two-step sintering regimes. Results showed that the two-step sintered samples had higher breakdown voltage, higher relative density and uniform microstructure. The best performance was obtained when T1 was 800 °C and T2 was 950 °C, the breakdown voltage was 883 V/mm, the nonlinear coefficient was 10.1, the leakage current was below 0.1 μA. This special two-step sintering method also contributed to avoiding high-temperature and obtain better composite performance. The work may supply useful reference for the exploration and application of low-temperature silver co-fired multilayer chip device.

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Funding

The authors acknowledge financial supported from Open subject of key Laboratory of Inorganic Functional Materials and Devices, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Project Number KLIFMD201701), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51862009), the Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Education Department in 2019 (GJJ190585), Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation (20212BAB204019, 20202BABL204016), School Youth Top Talent Program of JXSTNU (2019QNBJRC006, 2018QNBJRC005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Surface Engineering, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330038, Jiangxi, China

    Wenjin Liu, Jianping Ai, Wenkui Li & Lihong Cheng

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  1. Wenjin Liu
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  2. Jianping Ai
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  3. Wenkui Li
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  4. Lihong Cheng
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Contributions

Conceptualization: LC, WL; Methodology: LC; Formal analysis and investigation: LC, WL, JA; Writing—original draft preparation: WL; Writing—review and editing: WL, LC, WL, JA; Funding acquisition: JA; Supervision: LC, WL.

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Correspondence to Lihong Cheng.

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Liu, W., Ai, J., Li, W. et al. Improvement of properties of ZnO varistors by low-temperature two-step sintering method. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 23918–23926 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-07510-0

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