Effect of TiO2 doped Ni electrodes on the dielectric properties and microstructures of (Ba0.96Ca0.04)(Ti0.85Zr0.15)O3 multilayer ceramic capacitors

The effects of TiO2-doped Ni electrodes on the microstructures and dielectric properties of (Ba0.96Ca0.04)(Ti0.85Zr0.15)O3 multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) have been investigated. Nickel paste with a TiO2 dopant was used as internal electrodes in MLCCs based on (Ba0.96Ca0.04)(Ti0.85Zr0.15)O3 (BCTZ) ceramic with copper end-termination. The microstructures and defects were analysed by microstructural techniques (SEM/HRTEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The continuity of the electrode of the MLCC was measured using a scanning electron microscope, which showed that the continuity of the electrode for the MLCC with a TiO2-doped Ni electrode was approximately 90%. However, continuity of the electrode for a conventional MLCC was below 80%. The continuity of the TiO2-doped Ni electrode showed significant improvement in the MLCC, which was due to no reaction between Ni and BCTZ.