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A new interpretation for the degradation phenomenon of ZnO varistors

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Abstract

The electrical degradation phenomena of zinc oxide-based varistors were studied using a high-energy current pulse and a.c. polarization at different temperatures. Activation energy measurements during the degradation process showed that these phenomena are associated with diffusion and that the diffusion-controlling species are slower than Zn., For degradation promoted by current pulses of 8×20 μs, the Schottky potential barrier deformation was measured. A decrease in height and width of the potential barrier due to the reduction of surface states density,N s, without a significant change in donor density,N d, was observed. To explain these results, a modification of the unstable components model is proposed for the potential barrier in which the degradation is due to oxi-reduction reactions between atomic defects. These reactions promote the elimination of zinc vacancies and/or adsorbed oxygen on the grain boundaries.

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Leite, E.R., Varela, J.A. & Longo, E. A new interpretation for the degradation phenomenon of ZnO varistors. J Mater Sci 27, 5325–5329 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02403838

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02403838

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