Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.111-116).

The major goal of this study was to gain a better understanding of the effects that grain boundaries have on conduction in multilayer ceramic (MLC) capacitors. Electrical measurements were made so that current-voltage curves and impedance plots could be constructed. It was found that the current-voltage curves of new COG and X7R multilayer ceramic capacitors are both ohmic at low voltages and super-ohmic at intermediate voltages. Ohmic behavior prevails at high voltages for both types. Such behavior can be attributed to grain boundaries. Grain boundary resistance was clearly exhibited by X7R-type density blanks and one commercially manufactured type of X7R MLC capacitor, while the NPO density blank and two different values of Z5U multilayer ceramic capacitors, each from a different manufacturer, indicated the possibility of grain boundary resistance. All of the samples that were tested showed possible, if not probable, evidence of grain resistance. Only the Z5U-type density blank showed a resistance contribution from the bulk-electrode interfaces. A model for the grain boundary potential barrier height was developed. It was found that barrier height reduction occurs for small grain sizes due to depletion of the grain, and for increased grain curvature. Dopant effects are also responsible for barrier height reduction. These results, and the related modelling, indicate that grain boundary contributions to titanate-based ceramic resistance can vary widely from sample to sample, since there are so many material dependent variables involved. Such measurements as those described here can help clarify how grain boundaries and other factors contribute to ceramic resistance. / M.S.

Electrical conduction mechanisms in BaTiO₃-based ferroelectric capacitor ceramics with an emphasis on the X7R type were studied. Dominant charge carriers in this material were identified as conduction band electrons below a temperature of 850°C. This was substantiated by the following results: negative Seebeck coefficients, zero galvanic cell voltage, and evidence of space charge-limited currents in MLC capacitors and related ceramic. Effects of chip thickness on the electrical parameters, as well as the I-V characteristics, were studied. Chip electrical parameters such as resistivity, dielectric constant, and activation energy were found to be independent of chip thickness. Effects of ambient were also studied and differences in current-voltage behavior were attributed to surface effects. Complex impedance spectroscopy proved to be a useful technique in separating grain, grain boundary, and contact contributions to the total impedance. Impedance plots for X7R ceramic revealed negligible contact impedance. The most probable electrical transport mechanism in X7R ceramic is small polaron hopping, although the possibility of combining small polaron hopping and grain boundary transmission cannot be excluded. / Ph. D.

No description available.

The complicated process may cause the internal defects of multi-layered ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and result in the malfunctions. This work aims to investigate the deformations of MLCCs that composed of nearly a hundred of BaTiO3 and Ni electrode films interleaved and stacked due to high pressure at elevated temperature. This study focuses on theoretical and numerical analyses. Classical laminated plate theory, linear elastic assumptions and equilibrium equations were adopted. Associated with the texts by Timoshenko and practical manufacturing process, three types of boundary conditions were considered, such as all edges simple-supported, two opposite edges simple-supported and the other two free, and four edges free. Also, two more conditions need be added, including four fixed points at corners and the elastic foundation at bottom. The numerical simulation by finite element method (FEM) incorporated with software ANSYS was used to obtain the displacement field of MLCCs due to high pressure at elevated temperature. The MLCCs were divided into nine regions with suitably different boundary conditions. Compared with the numerical results the analytical solutions of nine regions were found satisfactorily acceptable, i.e., the errors were about 0.1% - 6.2% for the boundary conditions of four edges free and four corners fixed. The errors about 0.13% - 6.15% were also acceptable for the boundary conditions of two opposite edges simple-supported and the others free. However, the analytical solutions did not agree with the numerical results for the case of all the boundary conditions simple-supported. Finally the proposed theoretical methodology provides an analytical method alternatively, instead of FEM and ANSYS, to analyze a nearly hundred layered MLCCs.

Le titanate de baryum dopé (BaTiO3, BT) avec des éléments de terres rares est utilisé comme diélectrique dans la fabrication de condensateurs céramiques multicouches (MLCC). L'oxyde de terres rares le plus couramment utilisé comme dopant dans la formulation commerciale de la poudre BT pour la fabrication de MLCC est Y2O3, car il a des propriétés similaires à celles de l'ajout de Ho2O3, Er2O3 ou Dy2O3 et il est moins coûteux. D'autres additifs, tels que Mn, Mg et Ca contribuent à la répartition globale des défauts électroniques pouvant être générés lorsque les ions dopants sont insérés dans le réseau, tandis que SiO2 est utilisé comme additif de frittage. La structure pérovskite du BT peut héberger une large gamme de dopants pouvant remplacer Ba ou Ti dans le réseau. Aussi, des phases secondaires, notamment celles connues sous le nom de pyrochlores Y2Ti2O7, associées à l'Y2O3 en tant que dopant BT, supposées être á l'origine des mécanismes de défaillance à long terme des MLCC, apparaissent. Le but de ce travail est de caractériser le BT dopé avec différentes concentrations d'Y2O3, en validant son éventuelle contribution à la formation de phases secondaires et en évaluant la fiabilité des MLCC préparées avec ce type de matériaux. Le rôle de Y2O3 a été évalué sur deux types de matières premières, le premier est du BaTiO3 pur (<100 ppm en Y) et le second est une formulation commerciale conçue pour les MLCC connus sous le nom de X7R (-55 °C et 125 °C, ±15 %) qui, entre autres éléments, contient déjà 1% en poids de Y2O3. Des poudres et des céramiques avec différentes concentrations d'Y3+, telles qu'Y2O3, de dopage (1% en poids à 20% en poids) ont été préparées puis traitées thermiquement ou frittées. Le traitement thermique de la poudre a été effectué à l'air, tandis que le frittage de la céramique (poudre compactée à 2 MPa) a été effectué à la fois dans l'air et dans une atmosphère réductrice (1310 °C à l'air pendant 3 h, deux étapes: 1310 °C puis 1150 °C 15 h et une atmosphère réductrice N2, H2, H2O à 1310 °C pendant 3 h). En ce qui concerne l'addition d'Y2O3, la transition de phase de tétragonal à un mélange de tétragonal et de cubique a été observée lorsque la concentration en Y2O3 augmentait dans la poudre traitée thermiquement et dans la céramique correspondante. [...] / Doped barium titanate (BaTiO3, BT) with rare-earth elements (REE) is used as dielectric in the manufacture of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). The most common REE oxide employed as dopant in the commercial formulation of BT powder for fabrication of MLCCs is Y2O3, because it results in similar properties than adding Ho2O3, Er2O3 or Dy2O3, and it is less expensive. Other additives, such as Mn, Mg, and Ca contribute to the global distribution of the electronic defects that can be generated when the doping ions are inserted into the lattice, while SiO2 is used as a sintering additive. The perovskite structure of the BT can host a wide range of dopants that can substitute either Ba or Ti in the lattice. There are reports of secondary phases, particularly those known as pyrochlores Y2Ti2O7, related to Y2O3 as BT dopant, that are supposed to be the cause of long term failure mechanisms of MLCC's under nominal operation. The purpose of this work is to characterize BT doped with different concentrations of Y2O3, validating its possible contribution to the formation of secondary phases, and evaluating reliability of MLCCs prepared with this kind of materials. The role of Y2O3 was evaluated on two kinds of raw materials, the first one is pure BaTiO3 (< 100 ppm Y) and the second kind is a commercial formulation designed for MLCCs known as X7R (-55 °C and 125 °C, 15% tolerance) which, among other elements, already contains 1 wt% of Y2O3. Powders and ceramics with different Y3+, as Y2O3, doping concentration (1 wt% up to 20 wt%) were prepared and subsequently thermally treated or sintered, respectively. Heat treatment of powder was conducted on air, while sintering of ceramics (powder compacted at 2 MPa) was carried out both, in air and reducing atmosphere (1310 °C in air for 3 h, two steps: 1310 °C then 1150 °C 15 h, and a reducing atmosphere N2, H2, H2O at 1310 °C for 3 h). Regarding Y2O3 addition, the phase transition from tetragonal to a mixture of tetragonal and cubic was observed as Y2O3 concentration increases in the thermally treated powder and in the corresponding ceramics. [...]