Influence of Dy2O3 Addition on Microstructure and Electrical Properties of Pr6O11-Based ZnO Varistor Ceramics

Abstract

The microstructure and electrical characteristics of $Pr_{6}$ $O_{11}$ -based ZnO varistor ceramics composed of $ZnO-Pr_{6}$ $O_{ 11}$/$-CoO-Cr_2$$O_3$-$Dy_2$$O_3$-based ceramics were investigated with $Dy_2$$O_3$content in the range of 0.0∼2.0 mol%. As $Dy_2$$O_3$content was increased, the average grain size was decreased in the range of 18.6∼4.7 $\mu\textrm{m}$ and the density of the ceramic was decreased in the range of 5.53∼4.34 g/㎤. While, the varistor voltage was increased in the range of 39.4∼436.6 V/mm and the nonlinear exponent was in the range of 4.5∼66.6 with increasing $Dy_2$$O_3$content. The addition of $Dy_2$$O_3$highly enhanced the nonlinear properties of varistors, compared with the varistor without $Dy_2$$O_3$. In particular, the varistor with $Dy_2$$O_3$ content of 0.5 mol% exhibited the highest nonlinearity, in which the nonlinear exponent is 66.6 and the leakage current is 1.2 $\mu\textrm{A}$. The donor concentration and the density of interface states were decreased in the range of $(4.19∼0.33) ${\times}$10^{18}$ //㎤ and $(5.38∼1.74) ${\times}$10^{12}$ $\textrm{cm}^2$, respectively, with increasing $Dy_2$$O_3$content. The minimum dissipation factor of 0.0302 was obtained from 0.5mol% $Dy_2$$O_3$.