Microstructural and compositional aspects of ZnO-based varistor ceramics prepared by direct mixing of the constituent phases and high-energy milling

ZnO-based varistor samples were prepared by the direct mixing of the constituent phases (DMCP) and sintering at 1100 °C for 2 h. The influence of the starting powder mixture's composition – the amounts of the pre-reacted varistor compounds and their composition – and its preparation, either with or without mechano-chemical activation (MCA), on the microstructure, phase composition and electrical characteristics of the varistor samples was studied. It showed that MCA improved the density and microstructural homogeneity of the varistor samples. MCA strongly affected the grain growth: it enhanced the nucleation of inversion boundaries (IBs) in the ZnO grains and the IBs-induced grain-growth mechanism resulted in uniform grain growth and hence a microstructure with smaller ZnO grains and a narrower grain size distribution. The final phase composition of the samples prepared by the DMCP method mainly depended on the presence of varistor dopants that can prevent the formation of the pyrochlore phase, especially Cr₂O₃, while MCA can affect it mostly by providing a homogeneous distribution of those dopants. The DMCP varistor samples prepared with MCA had much better current–voltage characteristics than the samples of the same composition prepared from unactivated powders.     

Nonlinear<Emphasis Type="Italic">I-V</Emphasis> characteristics study of doped SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

When tin oxide is doped with Sb₂O₃ and CoO, it shows highly nonlinear current (I)-voltage (V) characteristics. Addition of CoO leads to creation of oxygen vacancies and helps in sintering of SnO₂. Antimony oxide acts as a donor and increases the conductivity. The results are nearly the same when antimony oxide is replaced by tantalum oxide. The observed nonlinear coefficient, α = 30 and the breakdown voltage is 120 V/mm.     

Combustion synthesis of doped nanocrystalline ZnO powders for varistors applications

Doped nanocrystalline ZnO powders in the size range between 15 and 250 nm were synthesized by chemical combustion method. The powders were characterized for their physical, structural and chemical properties by BET, X-ray diffraction, FESEM, TEM and XPS. These powders were consolidated into dense varistors discs by compaction, sintering and evaluated for their I-V characteristics. Post-calcinations of these powders were found to have great influence on the green density and sinterability. The formations of phases after sintering were confirmed by XRD analysis and EDX. The varistor properties have been studied for different calcination temperatures and compositions. Breakdown voltage as high as 9.5 kV/cm and coefficient of nonlinearity 134 were obtained. Leakage current density was found to be ∼1.29 μA/cm² for a specific composition and condition. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of one step synthesis of doped ZnO nanopowder and their consolidation into ZnO fine grain varistor exhibiting improved performance.     

Dependence of La2O3 content on the nonlinear electrical behaviour of ZnO, CoO and Ta2O5 doped SnO2 varistors

The effects of La₂O₃ on the properties of (Zn, Co, Ta) doped SnO₂ varistors were investigated in this study. The samples with different La₂O₃ concentrations were sintered at 1400 °C for 2 h and their properties were characterized by XRD, SEM, I-V and impedance spectroscopy. The grain size was found to decrease from 13 μm to 9 μm with increasing La₂O₃ content. The addition of rare earth element leads to increase the nonlinear coefficient and the breakdown voltage. The enhancement was expected to arise from the possible segregation of lanthanide ion due to its larger ionic radius to the grain boundaries, thereby modifying its electrical characteristics. Furthermore, the dopants such as La may help in the adsorption of O′ to O″ at the grain boundaries characteristics.     

压敏电阻器与气体放电管配合使用的主要特性探析

本文简述了压敏电阻器与气体放电管相互之间的配合使用。从保护可靠性的角度分析,采用两者有效的配合使用,不但可以提高泄放暂态过电压的能力,减缓压敏电阻器的性能劣化。而且为降低压敏电阻器在大幅值8/20电流波冲击时,残压过高提供了有力依据。     

Highly stable nonlinear behavior against impulse current of ZnO-Pr6O11-CoO-Cr2O3-Y2O3 varistors

The nonlinear electrical behavior against the impulse stress (400-1200 A) in the ZnO-Pr₆O₁₁-CoO-Cr₂O₃-Y₂O₃ varistors has been investigated with sintering time. The sintering time did have a significant effect on the clamp ratio, which exhibits a surge protection capability. The varistors sintered for 1 h exhibited the best clamp characteristics, in which the clamp voltage ratio was in the range of K = 1.61-1.92 at a lower impulse current region (5-50 A) and was in the range of K = 2.06-2.55 at a higher single impulse current region (400-1200 A). The best electrical stability against the multi-impulse aging stress of 1200 A was also obtained from the varistors sintered for 2 h, where %ΔE_{1 mA} =−1.6%, %Δα =1.3%, and %ΔJ_L =−4.9%.     

Effect of Sm2O3 on the microstructure and electrical properties of SnO2-based varistors

The effect of Sm₂O₃ on the microstructure and non-linear electrical properties of (Co, Nb)-doped SnO₂-based varistors was investigated. The addition of Sm₂O₃ improved the non-linear characteristics of (Co, Nb)-doped SnO₂-based varistors. The threshold electric field (E_B) of SnO₂-based varistors increased significantly from 5340 to 12,460 V cm⁻¹ and the mean grain size decreased from 4.7 μm to 1.7 μm as Sm₂O₃ concentration increased up to 0.20 mol%. There was an optimal value (0.20 mol%) of the Sm₂O₃ concentration. The sample doped with 0.20 mol% Sm₂O₃ had the highest non-linear coefficient (α = 28). The addition of Sm₂O₃ reduced the relative density of (Co, Nb)-doped SnO₂-based varistors.     

Influence of B2O3 additives on microstructure and electrical properties of ZnO-Bi2O3-Sb2O3-based varistors

B₂O₃-doped ZnO-Bi₂O₃-Sb₂O₃-based varistors were fabricated by conventional ceramic technique. The microstructure and electrical properties were investigated by SEM, XRD and electrical measurements. With the addition of B₂O₃, the liquid-assisted sintering based on Bi₂O₃ was improved, and the Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃ glass and Zn₃(BO₃)₂ phase were formed on the grain boundaries. The doping of B₂O₃ markedly improved the varistor performance of the ZnO-Bi₂O₃-Sb₂O₃-based varistors. The nonlinear coefficient of the sample with 3.5 mol% B₂O₃ sintered at 1100 °C reached 56 and the leakage current was only 0.3 μA.