Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative characteristics of yttrium oxide and yttrium nitric acid doping in ZnO varistor ceramics

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of different molar ratios of Y2O3 and Y(NO3)3 on the microstructure and electrical response of ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics sintered at 1 000 °C was investigated, and the mechanism by which this doping improves the electrical characteristics of ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics was discussed. With increasing amounts of Y(NO3)3 or Y2O3 in the starting composition, Y2O3, Sb2O4 and Y-containing Bi-rich phase form, and the average grain size significantly decreases. The average grain size significantly decreases as the contents of rare earth compounds of Y(NO3)3 or Y2O3 increase. The maximum value of the nonlinear coefficient is found at 0.16% Y(NO3)3 or 0.02% Y2O3 (molar fraction) doped varistor ceramics, and there is an increase of 122% or 35% compared with the varistor ceramics without Y(NO3)3 or Y2O3. The threshold voltage V T of Y(NO3)3 and Y2O3 reaches at 1 460 V/mm and 1 035 V/mm, respectively. The results also show that varistor sample doped with Y(NO3)3 has a remarkably more homogeneous and denser microstructure in comparison to the sample doped with Y2O3.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. DURAN P, CAPEL F, TARTAJ J, MOURE C. Low-temperature fully dense and electrical properties of doped-ZnO varistors by a polymerized complex method [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2002, 22(1): 67–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. XU Dong, CHENG Xiao-nong, YUAN Hong-ming, YANG Juan, LIN Yuan-hua. Microstructure and electrical properties of Y(NO3)3·6H2O-doped ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics [J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2011, 509(38): 9312–9317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. WU Zhen-hong, FANG Jian-hui, XU Dong, ZHONG Qing-dong, SHI Li-yi. Effect of SiO2 addition on the microstructure and electrical properties of ZnO-based varistors [J]. International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials, 2010, 17(1): 86–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. XU Dong, CHENG Xiao-nong, ZHAO Guo-ping, YANG Juan, SHI Li-yi. Microstructure and electrical properties of Sc2O3-doped ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics [J]. Ceramics International, 2011, 37(3): 701–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. XU Dong, SHI Li-yi, WU Zhen-hong, ZHONG Qing-dong, WU Xin-xin. Microstructure and electrical properties of ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics by different sintering processes [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2009, 29(9): 1789–1794.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. XU Dong, CHENG Xiao-nong, YAN Xue-hua, XU Hong-xing, SHI Li-yi. Sintering process as relevant parameter for Bi2O3 vaporization from ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics [J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2009, 19(6): 1526–1532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. XU Dong, SHI Xiao-feng, CHENG Xiao-nong, YANG Juan, FAN Yue-e, YUAN Hong-ming, SHI Li-yi. Microstructure and electrical properties of Lu2O3-doped ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics [J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2010, 20(12): 2303–2308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. BERNIK S, MACEK S, BUI A. The characteristics of ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics doped with Y2O3 and varying amounts of Sb2O3 [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2004, 24(6): 1195–1198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. NAHM C W. Effect of cooling rate on degradation characteristics of ZnO·Pr6O11·CoO·Cr2O3·Y2O3-based varistors [J]. Solid State Communications, 2004, 132(3/4): 213–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. PARK J S, HAN Y H, CHOI K H. Effects of Y2O3 on the microstructure and electrical properties of Pr-ZnO varistors [J]. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 2005, 16(4): 215–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. HOUABES M, METZ R. Rare earth oxides effects on both the threshold voltage and energy absorption capability of ZnO varistors [J]. Ceramics International, 2007, 33(7): 1191–1197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. BERNIK S, MACEK S, AI B. Microstructural and electrical characteristics of Y2O3-doped ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2001, 21(10/11): 1875–1878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. LIU J, HU J, HE J L, LIN Y H, LONG W C. Microstructures and characteristics of deep trap levels in ZnO varistors doped with Y2O3 [J]. Science in China Series E: Technological Sciences, 2009, 52(12): 3668–3673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. XU Dong, SHI Li-yi, WU Xin-xin, ZHONG Qing-dong. Microstructure and electrical properties of Y2O3-doped ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics [J]. High Voltage Engineering, 2009, 35(9): 2366–2370.

    Google Scholar 

  15. GUNAY V, GELECEK-SULAN O, OZKAN O T. Grain growth kinetic in xCoO-6wt.% Bi2O3-(94-x) ZnO (x=0, 2, 4) ceramic system [J]. Ceramics International, 2004, 30(1): 105–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. ONREABROY W, SIRIKULRAT N, BROWN A P, HAMMOND C, MILNE S J. Properties and intergranular phase analysis of a ZnO-CoO-Bi2O3 varistor [J]. Solid State Ionics, 2006, 177(3/4): 411–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. XU Dong, TANG Dong-mei, LIN Yuan-hua, JIAO Lei, ZHAO Guo-ping, CHENG Xiao-nong. Influence of Yb2O3 doping on microstructural and electrical properties of ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2012, 19(6): 1497–1502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. BERNIK S, DANEU N. Characteristics of ZnO-based varistor ceramics doped with Al2O3 [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2007, 27(10): 3161–3170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. LEACH C, LING Z, FREER R. The effect of sintering temperature variations on the development of electrically active interfaces in zinc oxide based varistors [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2000, 20(16): 2759–2765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. PEITEADO M, FERNANDEZ J F, CABALLERO A C. Varistors based in the ZnO-Bi2O3 system: Microstructure control and properties [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2007, 27(13/14/15): 3867–3872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. HE Jin-liang, HU Jun, LIN Yuan-hua. ZnO varistors with high voltage gradient and low leakage current by doping rare-earth oxide [J]. Science in China Series E: Technological Sciences, 2008, 51(6): 693–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. NAHM C W, PARK C H. Microstructure, electrical properties, and degradation behavior of praseodymium oxides-based zinc oxide varistors doped with Y2O3 [J]. Journal of Materials Science, 2000, 35(12): 3037–3042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. CLARKE D R. Varistor ceramics [J]. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 1999, 82(3): 485–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. BUENO P R, VARELA J A, LONGO E. SnO2, ZnO and related polycrystalline compound semiconductors: An overview and review on the voltage-dependent resistance (non-ohmic) feature [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2008, 28(3): 505–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. NAHM C W. The preparation of a ZnO varistor doped with and its properties [J]. Solid State Communications, 2009, 149(19/20): 795–798.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. BERNIK S, BRANKOVIC G, RUSTJA S, ZUNIC M, PODLOGAR M, BRANKOVIC Z. Microstructural and compositional aspects of ZnO-based varistor ceramics prepared by direct mixing of the constituent phases and high-energy milling [J]. Ceramics International, 2008, 34(6): 1495–1502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. NAHM C W. Effect of sintering temperature on nonlinear electrical properties and stability against DC accelerated aging stress of (CoO, Cr2O3, La2O3)-doped ZnO-Pr6O11-based varistors [J]. Materials Letters, 2006, 60(28): 3311–3314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Dong Xu  (徐东), Dong-mei Tang  (唐冬梅), Lei Jiao  (焦雷), Guo-ping Zhao  (赵国平) & Xiao-nong Cheng  (程晓农)

  2. Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials Science, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Dong Xu  (徐东)

  3. State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Dong Xu  (徐东)

  4. Changzhou Engineering Research Institute, Jiangsu University, Changzhou, 213000, China

    Dong-mei Tang  (唐冬梅) & Xiao-nong Cheng  (程晓农)

  5. State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China

    Hong-ming Yuan  (袁宏明)

  6. College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China

    Hong-ming Yuan  (袁宏明)

Authors
  1. Dong Xu  (徐东)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dong-mei Tang  (唐冬梅)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lei Jiao  (焦雷)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hong-ming Yuan  (袁宏明)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guo-ping Zhao  (赵国平)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiao-nong Cheng  (程晓农)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dong Xu  (徐东).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(BK2011243) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China; Project(EIPE11204) supported by the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, China; Project(KF201104) supported by the State Key Laboratory of New Ceramic and Fine Processing, China; Project(KFJJ201105) supported by the Opening Program of State key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, China; Project(2011-22) supported by the State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry of Jilin University, China; Project(10KJD430002) supported by the Universities Natural Science Research Project of Jiangsu Province, China; Project(11JDG084) supported by the Research Foundation of Jiangsu University, China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, D., Tang, Dm., Jiao, L. et al. Comparative characteristics of yttrium oxide and yttrium nitric acid doping in ZnO varistor ceramics. J. Cent. South Univ. 19, 2094–2100 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-012-1250-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-012-1250-8

Key words

Search

Navigation