Structural and electrical properties of ZnO and SiO2 doped ZnO powder for varistor application

Abstract

Pure zinc oxide (ZnO) and silica (SiO) doped ZnO nanopowders have been prepared using solid state method. SiO were doped into ZnO at different weight percentage 1 and 3 wt.%. The structural and electrical properties of ZnO and SiO doped ZnO powder have been characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and electro source meter. From the results, the XRD pattern were compatible with ZnO phase structure. Based on the SEM images, the grain size of ZnO varistor is increased when doped with SiO. The obtained value of nonlinear coefficient (α) of undoped ZnO sample is low compared to SiO doped ZnO varistor. The, α value is increased as the content of SiO doped increases. The maximum value of α is at 3 wt.% of SiO doped ZnO which is 1.734 that might be can enhanced the performance of varistor. Thus, the properties of ZnO varistor can be improved when doped with SiO .

Tailoring the structural and optical properties of zinc oxide with addition of bismuth oxide prepared by two step process

“…A varistor is a semiconducting ceramic device that protects the electrical and electronic devices from overvoltage transients. Varistor based ZnO has been used to protect electrical circuits because of its excellent nonlinear current voltage properties [1] as well as the nonlinear coefficient, (α) [2]. The value of α shows how quickly the shift from the high resistive to the low resistive state allows the remaining current to flow through the ground.…”

“…Various methods have been used to synthesize low dimensional ZnO nanocrystal for varistor applications. Recently, the solid-state method is particularly attractive due to its simple, highly reproducible, suitable for mass production for commercial applications and capability of producing nanomaterials with adjustable grain sizes and controllable morphology which will affect the varistor properties [2,5]. Precipitation process was used in this study to synthesize ZnO powder in order to obtain a pure phase of the ZnO without impurities that can be observed from the XRD patterns and well crystallized ZnO powders also can be produced via this method [6].…”