Multilayer Capacitor Electrode Composition for Crack Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multilayer ceramic capacitors face issues with crack generation due to external stress, leading to deteriorated moisture resistance and high-temperature reliability, and the application of conductive resin layers to protect them increases equivalent series resistance, reducing power efficiency and generating heat.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer electronic component design with external electrodes comprising Cu and a first additive element, such as Ag or Al, having a higher content in specific layers to enhance ductility, preventing crack formation and improving moisture resistance and reliability without increasing ESR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conductive resin layer containing metal particles and resin is applied to external electrodes to protect from external stress, then resistance to external stress is improved, but equivalent series resistance increases and power efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conductive resin layer from the external electrode structure, extracting the harmful element that caused increased ESR while maintaining stress resistance through the optimized electrode layer configuration with Cu and additive elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite electrode layer structure comprising Cu and additive elements (Ag, Al, or Pd) in specific ratios, creating a material that provides both mechanical strength for stress resistance and electrical conductivity to prevent ESR increase
2Quantity of substance
If the multilayer ceramic capacitor is miniaturized with thinner dielectric and internal electrode thicknesses, then capacitance per unit volume is improved, but resistance to external stress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material compositions to different regions of the external electrode, with the electrode layer containing Cu and additive elements providing localized reinforcement at critical stress points while maintaining overall device miniaturization
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode layer uses a composite material system with Cu and additive elements (Ag, Al, or Pd) that provides enhanced mechanical strength and stress resistance, enabling the capacitor to maintain structural integrity even with thinner dielectric and internal electrode layers
3Reliability
If the content of the first additive element in the 1-2-th and 2-2-th electrode layers is increased to prevent cracks, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise compositional parameters for the electrode layers, including the content ranges of Cu and additive elements, and the gradient in additive element content between different electrode layers, to achieve optimal crack prevention and moisture resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer electronic component, in which the first external electrode may include the 1-1-th electrode layer disposed on the third surface, and the 1-2-th electrode layer disposed on the first and second surfaces, and the second external electrode may include the 2-1-th electrode layer disposed on the fourth surface and the 2-2-th electrode layer disposed on the first and second surfaces, wherein the 1-2-th electrode layer and the 2-2-th electrode layer include Cu and a first additive element having a content lower than a content of the Cu, the contents of the first additive element included in the 1-2-th electrode layer and the 2-2-th electrode layer are greater than the contents of the first additive element included in the 1-1-th electrode layer and the 2-1-th electrode layer, respectively, and the first additive element is at least one selected from Ag and Al, thereby preventing cracks and improving moisture resistance reliability.