Effect of Sintering Temperature on Electrical Properties of $Pr_{6}O_{11}$-Based ZnO Varistors

$Pr_{6}O_{11}$계 ZnO 바리스터의 전기적 성질에 소결온도의 영향

The electrical properties of Pr$_{6}$ O$_{11}$ -based ZnO varistors consisting of ZnO-Pr$_{6}$ O$_{11}$ -CoO-Cr$_2$O$_3$-Er$_2$O$_3$ ceramics were investigated with sintering temperature in the range of 1325~f1345$^{\circ}C$. As sintering temperature is raised., the nonlinear exponent was increased up to 1335$^{\circ}C$, reaching a maximum 70.53, whereas raising sintering temperature further caused it to decrease, reaching a minimum 50.18 and the leakage current was in the range of 1.92~4.12 $\mu$A. The best electrical properties was obtained from the varistors sintered at 1335$^{\circ}C$, exhibiting a maximum (70.53) in the nonlinear exponent and a minimum (1.92 $\mu$A) in the leakage current, and a minimum (0.035) in the dissipation factor. On the other hand, the donor concentration was in the range of (0.90~1.14)x10$^{18}$ cm$^{-3}$ , the density of interface states was in the range of (2.69~3.60)x10$^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$ , and the barrier height was in the range of 0.77~1.21 eV with sintering temperature. With raising sintering temperature, the variation of C-V characteristic parameters exhibited a mountain type, reaching maximum at 134$0^{\circ}C$. Conclusively, it was found that the V-I, C-V, and dielectric characteristics of Pr$_{6}$ O$_{11}$ -based ZnO varistors are affected greatly by sintering temperature.