Enhanced dual-function capacitor–varistor properties in Bi2/3Cu3Ti4O12–AgNbO3 composite ceramics
摘要
Bi2/3Cu3Ti4O12 (BCTO) ceramics combine dual functions, namely dielectric and nonlinear current and voltage properties. Reducing dielectric loss (tanδ) and improving nonlinear coefficient (α) and breakdown field strength (Eb) are prerequisites for the application of these materials. In this work, BCTO-xwt.%AgNbO3 (BCTO-xAN, x = 0 − 0.1) ceramics were prepared via solid state method. All ceramics exhibited a single cubic perovskite structure. AN addition led to a decrease in grain size and improved the compactness of BCTO ceramics. Optical band gap showed a downward trend with the increase in AN amount while grain boundary resistance and conduction activation energy increased to a large extent. Therefore, there was a noticeable drop in tanδ while dielectric constants (ε′) of samples still remained above 104. AN doping also enhanced barrier height and improved nonlinear characteristics of ceramics. Finally, BCTO-0.08AN composite ceramic possessed the most optimum dielectric and nonlinear properties (ε′ of ~ 1.13 × 104, tanδ of ~ 0.031 at 10 kHz, α of ~ 5.75, and Eb of ~ 8.5 kV/cm). These results reveal that BCTO-xAN ceramics have great application potential for capacitor–varistor dual-function devices.