Abstract
The performance of ZnO elements such as voltage-current characteristic, life performance under a continuous system voltage, energy absorption capability is strongly dependent on the performance of boundaries between ZnO grains formed during the sintering process. The performance of these boundaries is greatly influenced by spinel particles (Zn7Sb2O12) that are produced between ZnO grains and hence have a relation to the formation of boundaries.
The authors studied the influence of reducing spinel particles on the performance of ZnO elements by experimentally manufacturing and evaluating the elements with various amounts of Sb2O3. As the result, some characteristics of the spinel-reduced elements were improved compared with that of normal ZnO elements: e.g. superior voltage-current characteristic, smaller micro-pores and larger capacitance. It was also found that the sintering temperature of the spinel-reduced elements could be decreased by more than 100°C than that of normal elements which the authors are currently manufacturing.
