Electrical Properties of a TiO₂-SrO Varistor System

Abstract

The addition of different dopants affects the densification and electrical properties of TiO2 based varistor ceramics. The nonlinear current (I) and voltage (V) characteristics of titanium dioxide are examined when doped with small quantities (0.5-2 at.%) of strontium oxide. This paper discusses the electrical properties of such an SrO doped TiO2 system, and demonstrates that some combinations produce electrical properties suitable for use as low voltage varistors. The high value of the nonlinear coefficient (α) (6.6), the breakdown field strength (Eb) (328 V/cm) and the leakage current (Ir) (0.22 mA/cm2) obtained in a system newly doped with SrO, are all adequate properties for application in low voltage varistors.