Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Electrodes With Uniform Plated Thickness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multilayer ceramic capacitors face issues with non-uniform external electrode thickness due to rheology characteristics of conductive paste, leading to coverage deterioration and reliability problems from plating solution penetration.

Innovation Solution

The use of conductive carbon layers and plated metal layers, such as copper, nickel, and tin, to form external electrodes with a uniform thickness, enhancing mechanical and electrical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If external electrode is formed by dipping and blotting ceramic body in conductive paste, then external electrode can be formed on ceramic body, but thickness difference occurs depending on location causing deterioration of coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of forming external electrodeVSAvoiduniformity of external electrode thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a preliminary conductive paste layer before the main external electrode formation. This preliminary layer serves as a base that ensures uniform thickness distribution, preventing the thickness variation that occurs during the dipping and blotting process. The preliminary action of applying this base layer resolves the contradiction by enabling both ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the rheological parameters of the conductive paste by adjusting its composition and viscosity characteristics. This parameter change allows the paste to maintain uniform thickness during the dipping and blotting process, thereby achieving both ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If external electrode is formed by dipping and blotting in conductive paste, then external electrode can be formed on ceramic body, but reliability problem occurs due to penetration of plating solution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of forming external electrodeVSAvoidresistance to plating solution penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite external electrode structure consisting of multiple layers with different material compositions. This composite structure provides both ease of manufacture through the dipping and blotting process and resistance to plating solution penetration, as the multi-layer composite acts as a barrier to solution infiltration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The preliminary conductive paste layer serves as a protective barrier applied before the main electrode formation. This preliminary layer prevents plating solution from penetrating into the ceramic body, thereby resolving the reliability issue while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If volume of external electrode is reduced to increase capacitance-contributing portion, then larger portion can contribute to capacitance, but electrical loss may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume contributing to capacitanceVSAvoidelectrical loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite material structure in the external electrode with high-conductivity materials strategically positioned. This allows reduction of overall electrode volume while maintaining low electrical loss, as the composite structure optimizes the distribution of conductive materials to minimize resistance even with reduced volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality enhancement by concentrating high-conductivity materials in critical areas of the external electrode. This allows the overall electrode volume to be reduced while maintaining electrical performance, as the locally optimized high-conductivity regions prevent energy loss despite the reduced total volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach ensures uniform electrode thickness, improves coverage, reduces electrical loss, and enhances mechanical strength, thereby increasing capacitance and moisture resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a first plated layer covering the first conductive carbon layer, and a second plated layer covering the second conductive carbon layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroplating: Electroplating

Data Source

PatentUS12482606B2Multilayered ceramic capacitor

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include a ceramic body, a plurality of first internal electrodes and a plurality of second internal electrodes disposed inside the ceramic body, a first external electrode disposed outside the ceramic body and connected to the plurality of first internal electrodes, and a second external electrode disposed outside the ceramic body and connected to the plurality of second internal electrodes, where the first external electrode may include, a first conductive carbon layer electrically connected to the plurality of first internal electrodes, and a first plated layer covering the first conductive carbon layer, and where the second external electrode may include, a second conductive carbon layer electrically connected to the plurality of second internal electrodes, and a second plated layer covering the second conductive carbon layer.