Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A novel method for improving the microstructure and electrical properties of Pr6O11-based ZnO varistors

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 23 August 2022

This article has been updated

Abstract

The effects of different synthesis routes and sintering temperatures on the microstructures and electrical properties of ceramic varistors (composed of ZnO doped with Pr6O11, Co3O4, Cr2O3, and Nd2O3) were investigated. Two types of samples were prepared according to the milling approach (single-mill or double-mill). Remilling the calcined powder material reduced the required sintering temperature by 100 °C, improved the microstructure of the ceramic, and enhanced the nonlinear properties of the varistor. Though the different sintering temperatures and average grain sizes, both types were reach ≈ 98% of the theoretical density. The highest nonlinear coefficient value was ≈ 26.5, obtained from the first sample of the double-mill batch. As the sintering temperature increased, the nonlinearity diminished rapidly in the case of single-mill samples compared to double-mill ones. Similar behavior was noted for the varistor (breakdown) voltage. The thermionic emission behavior at the pre-breakdown region and the conduction mechanism through Schottky barriers were applied to find further electrical parameters.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Change history

References

  1. M. Peiteado, J.F. Fernandez, A.C. Caballero, Varistors based in the ZnO–Bi2O3 system: microstructure control and properties. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 27(13), 3867–3872 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Boumezoued et al., Synthesis and characterization of ZnO-based nano-powders: study of the effect of sintering temperature on the performance of ZnO– Bi2O3 varistors. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 32(3), 3125–3139 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Y. Wang et al., Highly nonlinear varistors from oxygen-deficient zinc oxide thin films by hot-dipping in Bi2O3: influence of temperature. Appl. Surf. Sci. 390, 92–99 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. C.-W. Nahm, Effect of sintering temperature on microstructure and electrical properties of Zn· Pr· Co· Cr· La oxide-based varistors. Mater. Lett. 60(28), 3394–3397 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. C.-W. Nahm, Electrical properties and stability of praseodymium oxide-based ZnO varistor ceramics doped with Er2O3. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 23(8), 1345–1353 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. C.-W. Nahm, Electrical properties and aging characteristics of terbium-doped ZPCC-based varistors. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 137(1), 112–118 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. C.-W. Nahm, Zinc oxide-praseodymia semiconducting varistors having a powerful surge suppression capability. Microelectron. Reliab. 55(11), 2299–2305 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Roy, T. Kundu Roy, D. Das, Sintering of Nanocrystalline multicomponent zinc oxide varistor powders prepared by ball milling. Mater Today Proc 5(3, Part 3), 9899–9909 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. C.W. Nahm, Microstructure and electrical properties of vanadium-doped zinc oxide-based non-ohmic resistors. Solid State Commun. 143(10), 453–456 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. C.-W. Nahm, Effect of sintering temperature on nonlinearity and surge degradation characteristics of Mn3O4/Nb2O5/Er2O3-doped ZnO–V2O5-based varistors. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-019-00009-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M.S. Shaifudin et al., Synergistic Effects of Pr6O11 and Co3O4 on electrical and microstructure features of ZnO-BaTiO3 varistor ceramics. Materials (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M. Zulkifli et al., Effect of erbium-calcium manganite doping on microstructure and electrical properties of zinc oxide based varistor ceramics. J. Fundam and Appl Sci. 9(2S), 298–307 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. K. Eda, Zinc oxide varistors. IEEE Electr. Insul. Mag. 5(6), 28–30 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. P. Meng et al., Improving electrical properties of multiple dopant ZnO varistor by doping with indium and gallium. Ceram. Int. 44(1), 1168–1171 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. O. Alvarez-Fregoso, Sintering temperature effects on the performance of ZnO ceramic varistors. Rev. Mex. Fis. 40(5), 771–781 (1994)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. T.K. Gupta, Application of zinc oxide varistors. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 73(7), 1817–1840 (1990)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. H.-Y. Liu et al., Microstructure and electrical properties of ZnO-based varistors prepared by high-energy ball milling. J. Mater. Sci. 42(8), 2637–2642 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. E. Leite, J.A. Varela, E. Longo, Barrier voltage deformation of ZnO varistors by current pulse. J. Appl. Phys. 72(1), 147–150 (1992)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. M.A. Ramírez et al., Microstructural and nonohmic properties of ZnO. Pr6O11 CoO polycrystalline system. Mater. Res. 13(1), 29–34 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. S. Hamdelou, K. Guergouri, Microstructure and electrical properties of co-doped ZnO varistors. J. Ceram. Sci. Technol. 7(4), 357–363 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  21. JGd.M. Furtado et al., Microstructural evaluation of rare-earth-zinc oxide-based varistor ceramics. Mater. Res. 8(4), 425–429 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. M. Dorraj et al., Optimization of Bi2O3, TiO2, and Sb2O3 doped ZnO-based low-voltage varistor ceramic to maximize nonlinear electrical properties. Sci. World J. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/741034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Zhao et al., Effect of MnCO3 on ZnO-Pr6O11-Co2O3-Cr2O3 varistor ceramics, in Applied mechanics and materials. (Trans Tech Publications, 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  24. W.R. Wan Abdullah, A. Zakaria, M.S.M. Ghazali, Synthesis mechanism of low-voltage praseodymium oxide doped zinc oxide varistor ceramics prepared through modified citrate gel coating. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 13(4), 5278–5289 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. M. Houabes, R. Metz, Rare earth oxides effects on both the threshold voltage and energy absorption capability of ZnO varistors. Ceram. Int. 33(7), 1191–1197 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. C.-W. Nahm, Nonohmic properties of V/Mn/Nb/Gd co-doped zinc oxide semiconducting varistors with low-temperature sintering process. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 23, 58–62 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. X. Fu et al., Microstructure and nonohmic properties of SnO2–Ta2O5–ZnO based ceramic varistors doped with TiO2. Int. J. Mod. Phys. B 28(06), 1450015 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Y. Chen et al., Hydrothermal synthesis of hexagonal ZnO clusters. Mater. Lett. 61(22), 4438–4441 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. F. Selim et al., Low voltage ZnO varistor: device process and defect model. J. Appl. Phys. 51(1), 765–768 (1980)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. B. Rahmati et al., Microstructural studies on the reoxidation behavior of Nb-doped SrTiO3 ceramics. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 25(12), 2211–2214 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. W.D. Kingery, Introduction to ceramics (Wiley, 1960)

    Google Scholar 

  32. M. Al-Amin et al., Effects of sintering temperature and zirconia content on the mechanical and microstructural properties of MgO, TiO2 and CeO2 doped alumina–zirconia (ZTA) ceramic. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-022-00194-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. N.H. Isa, R.S. Azis, N.K. Saat, The Effect of sintering time on the microstructural and nonlinear electrical properties of Zn-V-Mn-Nb-Nd-O low-voltage varistor ceramics. J. Phys. Conf Ser 1083, 012009 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. M. Mazaheri, S. Hassanzadeh-Tabrizi, S. Sadrnezhaad, Hot pressing of nanocrystalline zinc oxide compacts: densification and grain growth during sintering. Ceram. Int. 35(3), 991–995 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. J.-Y. Woo et al., Low-temperature sintering behaviors in a titanium oxide–copper oxide system through two-step heat treatment. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. 58(2), 219–224 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. T. Nakamura, Y. Okano, Low temperature sintered Ni-Zn-Cu ferrite. J. Phys. IV 7(1), 91–92 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  37. H.H. Hng, P.L. Chan, Cr2O3 doping in ZnO–0.5mol% V2O5 varistor ceramics. Ceramics Int. 35(1), 409–413 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. J. Cai et al., Sintering temperature dependence of grain boundary resistivity in a rare-earth-doped ZnO varistor. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 90(1), 291–294 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. C.-W. Nahm, C.-H. Park, Effect of Er2O3 addition on the microstructure, electrical properties, and stability of Pr6O11-based ZnO ceramic varistors. J. Mater. Sci. 36(7), 1671–1679 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. D. Lee et al., Characterizing electrical breakdowns upon reoxidation atmosphere for reliable multilayer ceramic capacitors. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. 58(4), 445–451 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP-2021/348), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Salem A. S. Qaid, M. A. A. Issa, A. M. Hassib & Bandar Ali Al-Asbahi

  2. Department of Physics, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, 425001, India

    E. M. Abuassaj

  3. Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN) and Fachbereich Physik, Universität Hamburg, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    Abdullah Ahmed Ali Ahmed

Authors
  1. Salem A. S. Qaid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. A. Issa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. M. Hassib
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bandar Ali Al-Asbahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. M. Abuassaj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Abdullah Ahmed Ali Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salem A. S. Qaid.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The original online version of this article was revised: In this article the author Salem Qaid has been erroneously affiliated with the second instiution.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Qaid, S.A.S., Issa, M.A.A., Hassib, A.M. et al. A novel method for improving the microstructure and electrical properties of Pr6O11-based ZnO varistors. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. 59, 796–802 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-022-00221-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-022-00221-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation