Interaction of BiNbO4-Based Low-Firing Ceramics with Silver Electrodes

Several commercial silver electrode pastes have been evaluated for use with BiNbO₄-based low-firing ceramics. After electrode application and subsequent cofiring, the electrode pattern on the ceramic was no longer visible. A bismuth-rich second phase was present at the electrode/BiNbO₄ interface, and silver was detected in the second phase. Systematic X-ray diffractometry analysis of the mixtures between different silver pastes and doped/undoped BiNbO₄ revealed an interaction between the silver and the BiNbO₄. This reaction was responsible for the disappearance of the silver electrode patterns.