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Size Effect on Properties of Varistors Made From Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Through Low Temperature Spark Plasma Sintering
Author(s) -
Macary Léna Saint,
Kahn Myrtil L.,
Estournès Claude,
Fau Pierre,
Trémouilles David,
Bafleur Marise,
Renaud Philippe,
Chaudret Bruno
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200801067
Subject(s) - materials science , varistor , spark plasma sintering , bismuth , nanoparticle , sintering , microstructure , zinc , oxide , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , composite material , metallurgy , nanotechnology , voltage , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Conditions for the elaboration of nanostructured varistors by spark plasma sintering (SPS) are investigated, using 8‐nm zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized following an organometallic approach. A binary system constituted of zinc oxide and bismuth oxide nanoparticles is used for this purpose. It is synthesized at room temperature in an organic solution through the hydrolysis of dicyclohexylzinc and bismuth acetate precursors. Sintering of this material is performed by SPS at various temperatures and dwell times. The determination of the microstructure and the chemical composition of the as‐prepared ceramics are based on scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The nonlinear electrical characteristics are evidenced by current–voltage measurements. The breakdown voltage of these nanostructured varistors strongly depends on grain sizes. The results show that nanostructured varistors are obtained by SPS at sintering temperatures ranging from 550 to 600 °C.