Metallic powders for use as electrode material in multilayer ceramic capacitors and method of manufacturing and of using same
The present disclosure generally relates to metallic powders for use in multilayer ceramic capacitors, to multilayer ceramic capacitors containing same and to methods of manufacturing such powders and capacitors. The disclosure addresses the problem of having better controlled smaller particle size distribution, with minimal contaminant contents which can be implemented at an industrial scale.
1. A composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC), the composition comprising metal-based spherical particles doped with a doping agent that operates to increase the sintering temperature of the composition, and comprising less than 1000 ppm of carbon content, wherein the particles have a median size (D50) of ≤120 nm.
2. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , wherein the particles have a median size (D50) of ≤100 nm.
3. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 2 , wherein the particles have a median size (D50) of ≤80 nm.
4. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 3 , wherein the particles have a median size (D50) of ≤50 nm.
5. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 900 ppm of carbon content.
6. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 800 ppm of carbon content.
7. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 700 ppm of carbon content.
8. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 600 ppm of carbon content.
9. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 500 ppm of carbon content.
10. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 400 ppm of carbon content.
11. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 300 ppm of carbon content.
12. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising less than 200 ppm of carbon content.
13. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , further comprising from 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. % oxygen content.
14. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 13 , comprising up to 3.5 wt. % oxygen content.
15. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 13 , comprising up to 2.0 wt. % oxygen content.
16. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 13 , comprising up to 1.5 wt. % oxygen content.
17. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 13 , comprising up to 0.6 wt. % oxygen content.
18. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 13 , comprising at least 0.2 wt. % oxygen content.
19. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 13 , comprising at least 0.6 wt. % oxygen content.
20. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , comprising an oxidation layer on a surface of the particles.
21. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 20 , the oxidation layer having a thickness of less than 15 nm.
22. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 20 , the oxidation layer having a thickness of less than 10 nm.
23. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 20 , the oxidation layer having a thickness of less than 5 nm.
24. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 20 , the oxidation layer having a thickness of at least 2 nm.
25. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 20 , the oxidation layer having a thickness of at least 3 nm.
26. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , wherein the metal is nickel.
27. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 26 , wherein the doping agent is sulfur.
28. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , having a Dmax <350 nm.
29. The composition in particulate form for use in an electrode layer of a MLCC according to claim 1 , having a Dmax <200 nm.