TY - JOUR
T1 - High performance ZnO varistors prepared from nanocrystalline precursors for miniaturised electronic devices
AU - Pillai, Suresh C.
AU - Kelly, John M.
AU - McCormack, Declan E.
AU - Ramesh, Raghavendra
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - An industrially viable solution-based processing route using minimal amounts of solvent has been used to prepare bulk quantity nanopowders (average particle size 15 ± 3 nm) for the fabrication of ZnO varistors. The xerogels, calcined powders and sintered materials were fully characterised. The preparation of varistors from nanopowders has been optimised by studying the effect of temperature on grain growth, densification and breakdown voltage. The varistors are prepared by sintering at 1050 °C for 2 hours, a temperature that is significantly lower than that used in the current industrial process. Highly dense varistor discs prepared from the sintered material produce devices, with a breakdown voltage 85% higher than that of commercial varistors, making them suitable for use in miniaturised electronic circuitry. Improved performance of these materials has been attributed to the small grain size and better dispersion of additives on ZnO grains.
AB - An industrially viable solution-based processing route using minimal amounts of solvent has been used to prepare bulk quantity nanopowders (average particle size 15 ± 3 nm) for the fabrication of ZnO varistors. The xerogels, calcined powders and sintered materials were fully characterised. The preparation of varistors from nanopowders has been optimised by studying the effect of temperature on grain growth, densification and breakdown voltage. The varistors are prepared by sintering at 1050 °C for 2 hours, a temperature that is significantly lower than that used in the current industrial process. Highly dense varistor discs prepared from the sintered material produce devices, with a breakdown voltage 85% higher than that of commercial varistors, making them suitable for use in miniaturised electronic circuitry. Improved performance of these materials has been attributed to the small grain size and better dispersion of additives on ZnO grains.
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U2 - 10.1039/b804793f
DO - 10.1039/b804793f
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:49749104300
SN - 0959-9428
VL - 18
SP - 3926
EP - 3932
JO - Journal of Materials Chemistry
JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry
IS - 33
ER -