Electrical properties of Ba[(M1/20Ta1/20)Ti9/10]O3 with M = Sc3+, Cr3+, Mn3+, or Fe3+ & Ba[(M1/30Ta2/30)Ti9/10]O3 with M = Mn2+, Ni2+, or Cu2+

A grand challenge with regard to multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) technology is to simultaneously increase permittivity, material break-down strength and resistivity, while reducing material dissipation loss, and temperature sensitivity of permittivity, using reasonably environmentally friendly constituents. Dipole-like substituted barium titanate (BaTiO₃), Ba[(M_1/20Ta_1/20)Ti_9/10]O₃ where M is a trivalent ion, Sc³⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn³⁺, or Fe³⁺, and more complicated electric-field interaction materials, Ba[(M_1/30Ta_2/30)Ti_9/10]O₃ where M is a divalent ion, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, or Cu²⁺, are investigated as potential candidate materials for MLCC technology. Measured temperature dependent, 273 K to 1173 K, electrical conductivity of Ba[(M_1/20Ta_1/20) Ti_9/10]O₃ and Ba[(M_1/30Ta_2/30)Ti_9/10]O₃ are reported. The dipole-like substituted materials, Ba[(M_1/20Ta_1/20)Ti_9/10]O₃, possess activation energies ranging from 2.02 to 2.40 eV and are nearly independent of the M³⁺ ion utilized. More complicated electric-field interaction materials, Ba[(M_1/30Ta_2/30)Ti_9/10]O₃ possess activation energies ranging from 2.50 to 2.61 eV and are nearly independent of the M²⁺ ion utilized. The results suggest that the introduction of stronger dipole-like electric fields increase the activation energy of the matrix compared to BaTiO₃. Hence, dipole-like substituted materials, Ba[(M_1/20Ta_1/20)Ti_9/10] O₃, and more complicated electric-field interaction materials, Ba[(M_1/30Ta_2/30) Ti_9/10] O₃, which can be used to significantly and controllable tailor the activation energy of BaTiO₃ based materials, remain of interest for MLLC technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]