MLCC Oxide Interlayer for Moisture Resistance and Electrode Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization and increased capacitance of multilayer ceramic capacitors lead to thinner dielectric layers and internal electrodes, making them more susceptible to moisture penetration and connectivity issues due to differences in shrinkage behavior.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer electronic component with a body comprising alternately disposed dielectric layers and internal electrodes, an external electrode, and an oxide layer containing Ni oxide, Cu oxide, or both, which improves moisture resistance and connectivity by acting as a barrier to external moisture and facilitating electrical connection between internal and external electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the dielectric layers and internal electrodes are made thinner to achieve miniaturization and higher capacitance, then the capacitance and miniaturization are improved, but the moisture resistance reliability deteriorates due to increased susceptibility to moisture penetration
Solution Approach 1:
An oxide layer is introduced as an intermediary barrier between the internal electrode and the external environment. This oxide layer, formed by treating the internal electrode surface, prevents moisture penetration while maintaining the thin-dimension structure, thus resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and moisture resistance reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the internal electrode are changed through oxide formation. By controlling the oxide layer thickness and composition (Ni oxide, Cu oxide, or both), the moisture barrier capability is enhanced without significantly increasing the overall component dimensions, allowing thin structures to maintain high reliability
2Length of moving object
If finer metal powder particles are used to thin the internal electrode, then the internal electrode thickness is reduced, but the connectivity between the internal electrode and the external electrode deteriorates due to greater shrinkage rate
Solution Approach 1:
The oxide layer serves as a mediator that maintains electrical connectivity between the fine-particle internal electrode and the external electrode. Despite the greater shrinkage of fine metal particles, the oxide layer provides a stable conductive path, ensuring connectivity reliability while enabling thinner electrode structures
Solution Approach 2:
The internal electrode structure is enhanced by forming a composite of metal powder particles with surface oxides. This composite structure combines the fine particle characteristics (enabling thinness) with the oxide layer properties (maintaining connectivity), resolving the contradiction between electrode thickness and connectivity reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution enhances the moisture resistance reliability and connectivity between internal and external electrodes, ensuring the reliability of the multilayer electronic component even at thinner dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the oxide layer... acting as a barrier to external moisture
Implementation Method 2
the oxide layer... facilitating electrical connection between internal and external electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer electronic component includes a body including a dielectric layer and an internal electrode alternately disposed with the dielectric layer in a first direction; an external electrode disposed outside the body; and an oxide layer disposed between the body and the external electrode and connecting the internal electrode and the external electrode, wherein the oxide layer includes one or more of an Ni oxide and a Cu oxide.