High dielectric constant of (Ba0.96Ca0.04)(Ti0.85Zr0.15)O3 multilayer ceramic capacitors with Cu doped Ni electrodes

A nickel paste with Cu dopant was used as the internal electrodes in multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) using barium titanate (Ba_0.96Ca_0.04)(Ti_0.85Zr_0.15)O₃ ceramic (BCTZ) with copper endtermination. The sintering behaviors of the MLCC and the interfacial structure between the Ni/Cu electrodes and the BCTZ dielectrics have been investigated. The thermal shrinkage and sheet resistance of the Ni/Cu alloys sintered at 1220 °C for 2 h in a reducing atmosphere were measured using thermal analysis techniques (TMA) and four-point probe equipment. The composition distributions, microstructures and line defects were examined using microstructural analysis techniques (SEM/HRTEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The Cu alloyed with Ni significantly improves the continuity of the electrode in the MLCC; this is due to there being no mutual trigger reaction between Ni and BCTZ dielectrics. In terms of the electrical properties, the results showed that Ni paste with Cu dopant improves the dielectric constant of the MLCC, but the dielectric loss (tan δ) is a slightly when higher compared to standard MLCC.