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Effect of pre-calcination of Bi2O3 and Sb2O3 on the densification and varistor properties of low-temperature sintered ZnO-Bi2O3 ceramics

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Abstract

This study utilized a conventional solid-state reaction method to sinter Bi2O3-Sb2O3-Co3O4-Mn3O4-Nb2O5 zinc oxide varistors at low temperatures of 860–880 °C. The pyrochlore phase occurs at temperatures ranging from 700 to 900 °C, influencing densification kinetics. The liquid-phase former, Bi2O3, is consumed and reacts to form the pyrochlore secondary phase Zn2Bi3Sb3O14, which inhibits the densification at low temperatures. Bi2O3 and Sb2O3 were pre-calcined at 550 °C to reduce secondary phase \({Zn}_{2}{Bi}_{3}{Sb}_{3}{O}_{14}\) formation and Bi2O3 consumption in this study. It was observed that pre-calcination of Bi2O3 and Sb2O3 at 550 °C successfully reduced the formation of the secondary phase Zn2Bi3Sb3O14, lowered the densification temperature of the ZnO-Bi2O3 varistor and improved its performance.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan [112-2221-E-006 -063 -MY3]. The authors gratefully acknowledge using the Core Facility Center, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.

Funding

National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan [112-2221-E-006 -063 -MY3].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hierarchical Green-Energy Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Yu-Min Shen

  2. Department of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Mu-Chien Len & Hsing-I Hsiang

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  1. Yu-Min Shen
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  2. Mu-Chien Len
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  3. Hsing-I Hsiang
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Contributions

Conceptualization, HIH and YMS; methodology, MCL; validation, HIH, and MCL; formal analysis, MCL; investigation, MCL; resources, HIH; data curation, CCK; writing—original draft preparation, HIH; writing—review and editing, HIH and YMS; visualization, HIH; supervision, HIH and YMS; project administration, HIH; funding acquisition, HIH and YMS. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. 

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Correspondence to Hsing-I Hsiang.

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Shen, YM., Len, MC. & Hsiang, HI. Effect of pre-calcination of Bi2O3 and Sb2O3 on the densification and varistor properties of low-temperature sintered ZnO-Bi2O3 ceramics. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 1750 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-11209-9

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