Multi-layered ceramic electronic component

1. A multi-layered ceramic electronic component comprising:

a sintered ceramic body including a plurality of stacked ceramic layers, a first side surface and a second side surface opposing each other, and a first end surface and a second end surface opposing each other;

a first internal electrode arranged in the sintered ceramic body, the first internal electrode having an end extending to the first end surface and including Ni;

a second internal electrode arranged in the sintered ceramic body so as to oppose the first internal electrode with a ceramic layer therebetween, the second internal electrode having an end extending to the second end surface and including Ni;

a first external terminal electrode arranged on the first end surface of the sintered ceramic body and electrically connected to the first internal electrode, the first external terminal electrode arranged to be subjected to a first potential; and

a second external terminal electrode arranged on the second end surface of the sintered ceramic body and electrically connected to the second internal electrode, the second external terminal electrode being arranged to be subjected to a potential different from the first potential; wherein

the sintered ceramic body includes:

an effective layer portion of the ceramic layers arranged between the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode, the effective layer portion contributing to generation of capacitance; and

side gap portions arranged between sides of the first and second internal electrodes and the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body and between sides of the effective layer portion and the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body; wherein

in the side gap portions, regions each located on a level with each of the first and second internal electrodes and extending to the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body are Mg-rich regions each having a Mg concentration greater than that of the effective layer portion.

2. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 1 , wherein

a first ceramic material defining the effective layer portion has a Mg content which is achieved by adding a first amount of Mg to about 100 mol of a primary material; and

a second ceramic material defining the Mg-rich regions has a Mg content which is achieved by adding a second amount of Mg to about 100 mol of the primary material, the second amount being about 0.5 mol to about 1.0 mol greater than the first amount.

3. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 1 , wherein each of the Mg-rich regions has a concentration gradient such that the Mg concentration decreases as a distance from an outside toward an inside of the sintered ceramic body increases.

4. A multi-layered ceramic electronic component comprising:

a sintered ceramic body including a plurality of stacked ceramic layers, a first side surface and a second side surface opposing each other, and a first end surface and a second end surface opposing each other;

a first internal electrode arranged in the sintered ceramic body, the first internal electrode having an end extending to the first end surface and including Ni;

a second internal electrode arranged in the sintered ceramic body so as to oppose the first internal electrode with a ceramic layer therebetween, the second internal electrode having an end extending to the second end surface and including Ni;

a first external terminal electrode arranged on the first end surface of the sintered ceramic body and electrically connected to the first internal electrode, the first external terminal electrode arranged to be subjected to a first potential; and

a second external terminal electrode arranged on the second end surface of the sintered ceramic body and electrically connected to the second internal electrode, the second external terminal electrode being arranged to be subjected to a potential different from the first potential; wherein

the sintered ceramic body includes:

an effective layer portion of the ceramic layers arranged between the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode, the effective layer portion contributing to generation of capacitance; and

side gap portions arranged between sides of the first and second internal electrodes and the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body and between sides of the effective layer portion and the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body; wherein

in the side gap portions, at least regions that are adjacent to the first and second internal electrodes are Mg-rich regions each having a Mg concentration greater than that of the effective layer portion; and

in the effective layer portion, a region that has a Mg concentration equal to or greater than those of the Mg-rich regions does not exist.

5. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 4 , wherein in the side gap portions, regions each located on a level with each of the first and second internal electrodes are the Mg-rich regions.

6. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 4 , wherein substantially the entire side gap portions are the Mg-rich regions.

7. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 4 , wherein

the sintered ceramic body further includes end gap portions arranged between an end of the first internal electrode, the end of the first internal electrode not extending to the first surface, and the second end surface of the sintered ceramic body, between an end of the second internal electrode, the end of the second internal electrode not extending to the second end surface, and the first end surface of the sintered ceramic body, and between ends of the effective layer portion and the first end surface and the second end surface of the sintered ceramic body; and

in the end gap portions, at least regions adjacent to the first and second internal electrodes are Mg-rich regions each having a Mg concentration greater than that of the effective layer portion.

8. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 7 , wherein

the sintered ceramic body further includes, in the ceramic layers, side gap vertical extensions which are located outside an outermost internal electrodes and vertically extend from the side gap portions and end gap vertical extensions which are located outside the outermost internal electrodes and vertically extend from the end gap portions; and

at least one of the side gap vertical extensions and the end gap vertical extensions of the ceramic layers are Mg-rich regions having a Mg concentration greater than that of the effective layer portion.

9. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 4 , wherein

a first ceramic material defining the effective layer portion has a Mg content which is achieved by adding a first amount of Mg to about 100 mol of a primary material; and

a second ceramic material defining the Mg-rich regions has a Mg content which is achieved by adding a second amount of Mg to about 100 mol of the primary material, the second amount being about 0.5 mol to about 1.0 mol greater than the first amount.

10. The multi-layered ceramic electronic component according to claim 4 , wherein each of the Mg-rich regions has a concentration gradient such that the Mg concentration decreases as a distance from an outside toward an inside of the sintered ceramic body increases.