Ag/ATO resistor pastes with adjustable temperature coefficients of resistance

A series of Ag/antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) resistor pastes with various conductive phase components were prepared. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), square resistance and stability of the resistors after re-sintering were studied. It was found that the TCR of Ag/ATO resistive pastes with an ATO content of 37− 31% varies from − 1000 to 2800 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹. All the resistors exhibited a low change rate of resistance after re-sintering and good performance in the degradation test. These results imply that the Ag/ATO resistor pastes are potential practical materials. In addition, the microscopic morphology of Ag at 0.1 μm, 0.5–1 μm, 1.5–2 μm and 2–4 μm particle sizes and the effect of particle size on TCR were investigated.