Effect of Stress on Current-Voltage Characteristics of ZnO Based Ceramics

The chemical composition and uniaxial compressive stress are varied to observe their effect on the current-voltage characteristics of ZnO based ceramics. The variation of chemical composition produces two kinds of ceramics showing ohmic and nonohmic current-voltage characteristics. The current at a fixed voltage increased with the increase of the compressive stress for both ohmic and nonohmic ceramics. Ceramics showing nonohmic behavior exhibit better reversible return of current-voltage curve when the applied compressive stress is removed from the ceramics than those showing ohmic behavior do. We found an appropriate chemical composition showing linear relation between current and stress at a fixed voltage. The ceramic materials with an appropriate chemical composition can be used as a potential sensing material in pressure sensors.