X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Analysis of Molybdenum Added to BaTiO3-based Ceramics Used for Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors

The effect of slight molybdenum doping of perovskite-type BaTiO3-based ceramics on the reliability of a multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) and on the valence state of molybdenum in the BaTiO3-based ceramics has been investigated by highly accelerated lifetime tests and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The molybdenum added to the BaTiO3-based ceramics is located at Ti sites and improves the highly accelerated lifetime and lowers the initial dielectric resistivity in MLCCs. Through sintering in a reducing atmosphere, which is an important process in the fabrication of BaTiO3-based MLCCs, the oxidation state of the molybdenum added could be adjusted from +6 to a value close to +4. (C) 2017 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.