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Effect of erbium on varistor characteristics of vanadium oxide-doped zinc oxide ceramics

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Abstract

The effect of erbium addition on microstructure, electrical properties, and ageing behavior of vanadium oxide-doped zinc oxide varistor ceramics was systematically investigated. Analysis of the microstructure indicated that the ceramics added with erbium consisted of ZnO grain as a main phase and secondary phases such as Zn3(VO4)2, ZnV2O4, ErVO4, V2O5, and Mn-rich. The average grain size decreased from 5.5 to 5.2 μm up to 0.05 mol%, whereas a further addition gradually increased it to 5.7 μm at 0.25 mol%. The sintered density increased from 5.51 to 5.61 g/cm3 with an increase in the amount of Er2O3. With increasing the amount of Er2O3, the breakdown field increased from 4,800 to 5,444 V/cm up to 0.05 mol%, whereas a further addition decreased it to 4,061 V/cm at 0.25 mol%. The varistor ceramics added with 0.05 mol% Er2O3 additives induced excellent nonlinear properties, with nonlinear coefficient of 63.4 by properly adding the amount of Er2O3 (0.05 mol%). The study indicated that the erbium acted as a donor to increase the donor concentration with an increase in the amount of Er2O3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Semiconductor Ceramics Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Dongeui University, Busan, 614-714, Korea

    Choon-W. Nahm

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  1. Choon-W. Nahm
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Correspondence to Choon-W. Nahm.

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Nahm, CW. Effect of erbium on varistor characteristics of vanadium oxide-doped zinc oxide ceramics. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 24, 27–35 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-012-0770-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-012-0770-1

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