SrTiO3 Based Dual-Functional Ceramics with Nano-Additives

Abstract

The electrical properties and microstructures of SrTiO3 based voltage-sensing and dielectric dual-functional ceramics with nanometer donor and acceptor additives were studied. The La2O3 nanopowders and MnO-SiO2-Al2O3 (or CuO-SiO2-Al2O3) nano-composite powders were incorporated into SrTiO3 as donor, acceptor and liquid-phase sintering aids. Then semiconducting SrTiO3-based ceramics were sintered at 1360-1440oC for 2 h in a reducing atmosphere. The effects of the nanometer donor and acceptor additives and the sintering temperature on the electrical properties and microstructures of materials were discussed. The results showed that SrTiO3-based varistor ceramics with 1.1 mol% La2O3 and 0.1 mol% MnO nano-additives sintered at 1360-1420oC in graphite and N2 reducing atmosphere have excellent voltage-sensing and dielectric characteristics. The varistor voltage ranges from 2.3 to 5.3 V/mm, the nonlinear coefficient from 3.0 to 3.8, and the dielectric constant from 215,600 to 413,000.