Ceramic multi-layer capacitor based on BaTi(1-y)ZryO3

1. A ceramic multi-layer capacitor comprising a main body comprising ceramic layers and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween, wherein the ceramic layers comprise a ceramic material on a basis of BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0≦y≦1, which has a temperature-dependent capacitance anomaly.

2. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0<y<1.

3. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 2 , wherein the ceramic material comprises BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0<y<0.3.

4. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises one or a plurality of metals selected from Pb, Ca, Sn, Sr, Bi, Hf and Nb.

5. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises one or a plurality of metals selected from Ni, Al, Mg, Fe, Cr and Mn.

6. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises one or a plurality of metals selected from Si, Al, B, Cu and Zn.

7. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises a solid solution or a mixture of different ceramic phases further comprising one or a plurality of the following materials:

zirconates, silicates, titanates, aluminates, stannates, niobates, tantalates,

oxides of rare earths comprising Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd,

group 1A metal oxides, group 2A metal oxides,

refractory metal oxides, in particular comprising Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, and

metal oxides comprising Al, Si, Sn, Pb, Bi.

8. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material consists of BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0≦y≦1.

9. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitance anomaly is in a temperature range of greater than or equal to 25° C. and less than or equal to 150° C.

10. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitance anomaly is in a temperature range of greater than or equal to 60° C. and less than or equal to 120° C.

11. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrode layers comprise a base metal.

12. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second electrode layers comprise an Ni-based or a Cu-based metal.

13. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises one or a plurality of metals selected from Pb, Sn, Sr, Bi, Hf and Nb and a solid solution or a mixture of different ceramic phases further comprising one or a plurality of the following materials:

zirconates, silicates, stannates, niobates, tantalates,

an oxide comprising Sc,

refractory metal oxides comprising Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, and

metal oxides comprising Sn, Pb, Bi.

14. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic layers have a thickness of greater than or equal to 1 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm.

15. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrode layers have a thickness of greater than or equal to 0.5 μm and less than or equal to 2 μm.

16. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises at least moo ceramic layers with electrode layers arranged therebetween.

17. The multi-layer capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature-dependent capacitance anomaly includes a capacitance that has a maximum in a temperature range.

18. A ceramic multi-layer capacitor comprising a main body comprising ceramic layers and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween, wherein the ceramic layers comprise a ceramic material on a basis of BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0≦y≦1, which has a temperature-dependent capacitance anomaly, and wherein the main body has a volume of greater than or equal to 1 cm 3 .

19. A ceramic multi-layer capacitor comprising a main body comprising ceramic layers and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween, wherein the ceramic layers comprise a ceramic material on a basis of BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0≦y≦1, which has a temperature-dependent capacitance anomaly,

wherein the first electrode layers are electrically contacted by a first contact layer on a first outer side of the main body and the second electrode layers are electrically contacted by a second contact layer on a second outer side of the main body, the second outer side being situated opposite the first outer side,

wherein the main body has a length, a width and a height and the length is given by a first distance between the first and second outer sides, the height is given by a second distance between an underside of the main body and a top side of the main body along a stacking direction of the ceramic layers and the first and second electrode layers, and the width is given by a third distance between mutually opposite side surfaces of the main body which connect the outer sides and the top side and the underside of the main body,

wherein the first and second electrode layers are arranged alternately one above another in the main body and, in each case, have a width which tapers symmetrically in a step in a direction directed away from the respective contact layer, and

wherein the first and second electrode layers are arranged, in each case, in pairs in one plane and between the planes, third electrode layers are present in the main body, the third electrode layers being not externally contactable and being, in each case, spaced apart from the outer sides and side surfaces.

20. A ceramic multi-layer capacitor comprising a main body comprising ceramic layers and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween, wherein the ceramic layers comprise a ceramic material on a basis of BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0≦y≦1, which has a temperature-dependent capacitance anomaly,

wherein the first electrode layers are electrically contacted by a first contact layer on a first outer side of the main body and the second electrode layers are electrically contacted by a second contact layer on a second outer side of the main body, the second outer side being situated opposite the first outer side,

wherein the main body has a length, a width and a height and the length is given by a first distance between the first and second outer sides, the height is given by a second distance between an underside of the main body and a top side of the main body along a stacking direction of the ceramic layers and the first and second electrode layers, and the width is given by a third distance between mutually opposite side surfaces of the main body which connect the outer sides, the top side and the underside of the main body,

wherein the first and second electrode layers are arranged, in each case, in pairs in one plane and between the planes, third electrode layers are present in the main body, the third electrode layers being not externally contactable, being spaced apart from the outer sides and having a larger width than the first and second electrode layers, and

wherein the first and second electrode layers are spaced apart from the side surfaces and the third electrode layers extend as far as the side surfaces.

21. A ceramic multi-layer capacitor comprising a main body comprising ceramic layers and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween, wherein the ceramic layers comprise a ceramic material on a basis of BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0≦y≦1, which has a temperature-dependent capacitance anomaly,

wherein the ceramic material comprises one or more metals selected from Pb, Sn, Bi, Hf, Nb, Ni, Al, Fe, B, Cu and Zn, and

wherein the ceramic material comprises a solid solution or a mixture of different ceramic phases further comprising one or more of the following materials:

zirconates, silicates, titanates, aluminates, stannates, niobates, tantalates,

oxides of one or more selected from Sc, La, Ce, Pr and Nd,

refractory metal oxides comprising one or more selected from Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf and Ta,

metal oxides comprising one or more selected from Al, Sn, Pb, and Bi.

22. A ceramic multi-layer capacitor comprising a main body comprising ceramic layers and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween, wherein the ceramic layers comprise a ceramic material on a basis of BaTi 1-y Zr y O 3 where 0≦y≦1, which has a temperature-dependent capacitance anomaly, and

wherein the ceramic material comprises one or more metals selected from Pb, Sn, Sr, Bi, Hf and Nb and a solid solution or a mixture of different ceramic phases further comprising one or more of the following materials:

zirconates, silicates, stannates, niobates, tantalates,

an oxide comprising Sc,

refractory metal oxides comprising one or more selected from Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, and Ta, and

metal oxides comprising one or more selected from Sn, Pb, and Bi.