CONDUCTIVE PASTE

Abstract

A conductive paste defining inner electrodes of a multilayer ceramic capacitor manufactured through a firing step, includes a conductive metal powder, a ceramic powder, an organic solvent, and an organic binder. At least a portion of the ceramic powder is a powder of at least one oxide of ABO.sub.3 type with a specified ionic radius in which a ratio of a six-coordinate ionic radius of an A-site element in ABO.sub.3 to a six-coordinate ionic radius of a metal element in the conductive metal powder is about 0.97 or greater and about 1.04 or less. Preferably, when the conductive metal powder includes nickel, the at least one oxide of ABO.sub.3 type with the specified ionic radius is at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3.

Claims

1. A conductive paste to define inner electrodes of a multilayer ceramic capacitor, the conductive paste comprising: a conductive metal powder; a ceramic powder; an organic solvent; and an organic binder; wherein at least a portion of the ceramic powder is a powder including at least one of NiTiO.sub.3 or MnTiO.sub.3.

2. The conductive paste according to claim 1, wherein the conductive metal powder includes nickel.

3. The conductive paste according to claim 1, wherein about 10% by volume or more of the ceramic powder is the powder including at least one of NiTiO.sub.3 or MnTiO.sub.3 and a remainder of the ceramic powder is a powder including at least one of BaTiO.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, or CaZrO.sub.3 as a base.

4. A multilayer capacitor comprising: a multilayer body including dielectric layers made of a ceramic and stacked on each other and inner electrodes between the dielectric layers; wherein the inner electrodes are made of a conductive paste including: a conductive metal powder; a ceramic powder; an organic solvent; and an organic binder; wherein at least a portion of the ceramic powder is a powder including at least one of NiTiO.sub.3 or MnTiO.sub.3.

5. The multilayer capacitor according to claim 4, wherein the conductive metal powder includes nickel.

6. The multilayer capacitor according to claim 4, wherein about 10% by volume or more of the ceramic powder is the powder including at least one of NiTiO.sub.3 or MnTiO.sub.3 and a remainder of the ceramic powder is a powder including at least one of BaTiO.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, or CaZro.sub.3 as a base.

7. The multilayer capacitor according to claim 4, wherein the ceramic of the dielectric layers includes ABO.sub.3, where A is at least one of Ba, Ca, or Sr, and B is at least one of Ti or Zr.

8. The multilayer capacitor according to claim 4, wherein the ceramic of the dielectric layers includes at least one of Mn, Mg, Si, Y, Dy, or Gd.

9. The multilayer capacitor according to claim 4, further comprising outer electrodes on the multilayer body and connected to respective ones of the inner electrodes.

10. The multilayer capacitor according to claim 9, wherein the outer electrodes include Ag or Cu.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a multilayer ceramic capacitor 1 to which a conductive paste according to an example embodiment of the present invention is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0013] With reference to FIG. 1, the structure of a multilayer ceramic capacitor 1 to which a conductive paste according to an example embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described.

[0014] The multilayer ceramic capacitor 1 includes a multilayer body 2. The multilayer body 2 includes multiple dielectric layers 3 made of ceramic and stacked together and multiple inner electrodes 4 and 5 arranged along the interfaces between the multiple dielectric layers 3. The inner electrodes 4 and 5 are categorized into multiple first inner electrodes 4 and multiple second inner electrodes 5 arranged alternately in the direction of stacking in the multilayer body 3. At the outer surface of the multilayer body 2, or more specifically the end surfaces facing each other, a first outer electrode 6 and a second outer electrode 7 are provided, with each outer electrode at a respective end surface. The first outer electrode 6 is electrically coupled to the first inner electrodes 4, and the second outer electrode 7 is electrically coupled to the second inner electrodes 5.

[0015] The dielectric layers 3 are made of a ceramic that includes, for example, ABO.sub.3 (A is at least one of Ba, Ca, or Sr, and B is at least one of Ti or Zr) as a base. The ceramic may include the ABO.sub.3 as a base and further include at least one of Mn, Mg, Si, Y, Dy, or Gd as a minor element.

[0016] The inner electrodes 4 and 5 preferably include Ni as a conductive material. As a characteristic composition, furthermore, the inner electrodes 4 and 5 include at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3. NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 have an ilmenite crystal structure.

[0017] As can be seen from the experimental examples described later herein, in an example embodiment, the dielectric layers 3 are made of a ceramic that includes at least one of BaTio.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, and CaZro.sub.3 as a base, and the inner electrodes 4 and 5 include nickel as a conductive material, include at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 as a ceramic material, and, optionally, further include the at least one of BaTiO.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, and CaZrO.sub.3 included in the dielectric layers 3.

[0018] The outer electrodes 6 and 7 are formed by, for example, applying a conductive paste in which Ag or Cu is the base ingredient in the conductive material to the end surfaces of the multilayer body 2 and baking the applied paste. Optionally, the thick films formed through baking may be coated with, for example, Ni plating and Sn plating on it.

[0019] The multilayer ceramic capacitor 1 is manufactured through, for example, steps such as the following. First, a ceramic slurry including raw material powders for ceramic that will give a composition as described above is produced. Then ceramic green sheets are shaped by applying an appropriate sheet shaping method to the ceramic slurry. Then a conductive paste that is to be each of the inner electrodes 4 and 5 is applied onto predetermined ones of the multiple ceramic green sheets, for example by printing. Then the multiple ceramic green sheets are stacked together and then pressure-bonded to give a raw multilayer body. Then the raw multilayer body is fired. In this step of firing, the ceramic green sheets turn into the dielectric layers 3. Thereafter, the outer electrodes 6 and 7 are provided at the end surfaces of the multilayer body 3.

[0020] The conductive paste that is to be the inner electrodes 4 and 5 used during the above-described manufacture of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 1 is preferably produced as follows.

[0021] In the production of the conductive paste, a first step, in which a ceramic powder slurry including at least one ceramic powder, an organic solvent, and a dispersant is prepared, a second step, in which a metal powder slurry including a conductive metal powder, an organic solvent, and a dispersant is prepared, a third step, in which an organic vehicle including an organic resin component and an organic solvent is prepared, and a fourth step, in which the ceramic powder slurry, metal powder slurry, and organic vehicle are mixed together, are carried out.

[0022] To be more specific, in the first step, a ceramic powder slurry is prepared by mixing at least one ceramic powder and a dispersant into an organic solvent.

[0023] The ceramic powder is, for example, a powder of at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 as ABO, oxides. Besides it, furthermore, a powder of at least one of BaTiO.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, or CaZro.sub.3 as common materials is used in some cases.

[0024] When the conductive metal powder included in the metal powder slurry prepared in the second step, which will be described later herein, includes nickel, the aforementioned NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 as ABO.sub.3 oxides are oxides of ABO.sub.3 type with a specified ionic radius in which the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 to the six-coordinate ionic radius of the nickel element is about 0.97 or greater and about 1.04 or less, for example.

[0025] With a ceramic powder formed from at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 as ABO.sub.3 oxides, the reaction that can occur between it and the conductive metal powder included in the metal powder slurry prepared in the second step can be moderated. The ceramic powder may include the ABO.sub.3 oxide as a base and further include at least one of Mn, Mg, Si, Y, Dy, or Gd as a minor element. When the ceramic powder includes such a minor element, the sintering of the metal particles is effectively inhibited in some cases, as a result of controlled growth of ceramic particles.

[0026] The dispersant mixed into the ceramic powder in the first step can be, for example, an anionic polymer dispersant. The organic solvent can be, for example, dihydroterpineol.

[0027] In the second step, a metal powder slurry is prepared by mixing a conductive metal powder and a dispersant into an organic solvent. The conductive metal powder is, for example, a powder of metallic nickel or its alloy. A dispersant and an organic solvent that can be used in the second step are the same as in the first step.

[0028] In the third step, an organic vehicle is prepared by mixing an organic resin component into an organic solvent. The organic resin component can be, for example, ethyl cellulose resin. An organic solvent that can be used in the third step, too, is the same as in the first step.

[0029] In the fourth step, the ceramic powder slurry, metal powder slurry, and organic vehicle described above are mixed together. Through this, a conductive paste that is to be the inner electrodes 4 and 5 is obtained. This conductive paste includes a ceramic powder slurry, and, as stated earlier herein, the ceramic powder slurry includes a ceramic powder formed from at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 as ABO.sub.3 oxides with a specified ionic radius. The inner electrodes 4 and 5 included in the multilayer ceramic capacitor 1 manufactured through a firing step, therefore, will include at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3.

Experimental Examples

[0030] Experimental examples conducted to verify advantages provided by example embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

[0031] In these experimental examples, a nickel powder was prepared as the conductive metal powder included in the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes.

[0032] Separately, as ABO.sub.3 oxides with a specified ionic radius to serve as components of the ceramic powder included in the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes, CuTiO.sub.3, BaTiO.sub.3, CaZrO.sub.3, and SrTiO.sub.3 were prepared in addition to NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3. In Table 1, the crystal structure, coordination number, A-site element, and ionic radius are presented for these ABO.sub.3 oxides. It should be noted that Ba, Ca, and Sr are twelve-coordinate when they are in their native perovskite structure, but become six-coordinate when they dissolve in the sites of the six-coordinate element (Ni, Mg, or Mn) in the ilmenite structure. Consequently, for Ba, Ca, and Sr, too, the ionic radius in Table 1 represents a six-coordinate value.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 ABO.sub.3 Crystal Coordination A-site Ionic oxide structure number element radius [] NiTiO.sub.3 Ilmenite 6 Ni 0.69 MgTiO.sub.3 Ilmenite 6 Mg 0.72 MnTiO.sub.3 Ilmenite 6 Mn 0.67 CuTiO.sub.3 Ilmenite 6 Cu 0.73 BaTiO.sub.3 Perovskite 12 Ba 1.35 CaZrO.sub.3 Perovskite 12 Ca 1.00 SrTiO.sub.3 Perovskite 12 Sr 1.18

[0033] Experimental Examples 1, 2, and 3, which were conducted with different ceramic raw materials forming the dielectric layers, will now be described.

Experimental Example 1

Base of the Ceramic Forming the Dielectric Layers: BaTiO.SUB.3

1. Preparation of a BaTiO.SUB.3 .Ceramic Raw Material That Will Form the Dielectric Layers

[0034] As starting materials, powders of BaCO.sub.3 and TiO.sub.2, which were base ingredients, were weighed out and mixed together for 72 hours in a ball mill. Then the resulting mixture was subjected to heat treatment for 2 hours with the maximum temperature being 1000 C., yielding a thermally treated powder. Separately, as minor ingredients, powders of MnO, Dy.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, SiO.sub.2, and BaCO.sub.3 were prepared and weighed out in such a manner that the proportions of the minor ingredient powders to the thermally treated powder would be as in 100BaTiO.sub.3+0.5Mn+1.0Dy+1.0 Mg+1.0Si+2.0Ba. These minor ingredient powders were added to the thermally treated powder, the powders were mixed together for 24 hours in a ball mill, and then the resulting mixture was dried. In this manner, a BaTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder was obtained.

2. Preparation of a Conductive Paste for the Formation of Inner Electrodes

[0035] A powder of the ABO.sub.3 oxide specified in Table 2, which will be provided later herein, and the BaTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder for dielectric layers described above were used as ceramic powders included in the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes.

[0036] These powder of an ABO.sub.3 oxide and BaTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder were weighed out to the percentages added specified in Table 2. These powders and dihydroterpineol as the organic solvent and an anionic polymer dispersant as the dispersant were subjected to preliminary mixing in a stirring mill without a medium, and then dispersion treatment was performed in a medium stirring mill. In this manner, a ceramic powder slurry was prepared (first step).

[0037] Separately, a metal powder slurry was prepared by subjecting a nickel powder as the conductive metal powder, dihydroterpineol as the organic solvent, and an anionic polymer dispersant as the dispersant to dispersion treatment in a three-roll mill (second step).

[0038] An organic vehicle, furthermore, was obtained by mixing ethyl cellulose resin as the organic resin component with dihydroterpineol, which is an organic solvent (third step).

[0039] Thereafter, the metal powder slurry and ceramic powder slurry described above were added to the organic vehicle described above, and mixing and dispersion treatment was performed. In this manner, a conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes was prepared (fourth step).

[0040] In Table 2, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel, which was to be included in the inner electrodes, or the ionic radius ratio (A-site element/metallic nickel), is presented. It should be noted that for sample 8, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Ba (1.35 ), indicated in Table 1, to the six-coordinate ionic radius of Ni (0.69 ) is presented.

3. Production of a Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor

[0041] A ceramic slurry including the BaTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder prepared in 1 above was prepared, and then ceramic green sheets were shaped by applying doctor blading to the ceramic slurry. Then the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes prepared in 2 above was applied onto predetermined ones of the multiple ceramic green sheets by screen printing. Then the multiple ceramic green sheets were stacked together and then pressure-bonded to give a raw multilayer body. Then the raw multilayer body was fired. Thereafter, outer electrodes were formed at the end surfaces of the sintered multilayer body. In this manner, a sample multilayer ceramic capacitor was produced.

4. Evaluation

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Ionic radius ratio Percentage added (A-site ABO.sub.3 [% by volume] element/metallic Coverage Sample oxide ABO.sub.3 oxide BaTiO.sub.3 nickel) [%] Assessment 1 NiTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.00 85 2 MgTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.04 85 3 MnTiO.sub.3 100 0 0.97 84 4 CuTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.06 75 x 5 NiTiO.sub.3 10 90 1.00 85 6 MgTiO.sub.3 10 90 1.04 85 7 MnTiO.sub.3 10 90 0.97 84 8 100 1.96 74 x

[0042] An inner electrode and a dielectric layer located in the middle, in the height direction, of the multilayer body included in the sample multilayer ceramic capacitor were torn apart from each other by electric field separation.

[0043] Then the vicinity of the center (e.g., the position at about in the width direction and about in the length direction) of the exposed inner electrode was observed using a microscope at a magnification of 100 times. By analyzing the obtained image, the percentage of the area that the conductive film as an inner electrode occupied in the exposed portion was determined as the coverage presented in Table 2. Samples with a coverage of 80% or more were determined to be good; o was entered in the Assessment section. Samples with a coverage of lower than 80% were determined to be poor; x was entered in the Assessment section.

5. Discussion

[0044] Samples 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 in Table 2 received an assessment of o. For these samples 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, the inner electrodes include any of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 as an ABO.sub.3 oxide. The inner electrodes, furthermore, include nickel as a conductive material.

[0045] Ionic radii are focused on here. First, as indicated in the NiTiO.sub.3 section in Table 1, the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel is 0.69 . Meanwhile, the six-coordinate ionic radii of the A-site elements in NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 as the ABO.sub.3 oxides included in the inner electrodes of samples 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 are 0.69 , 0.72 , and 0.67 , respectively, as presented in Table 1.

[0046] For samples 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, which were rated o, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 to the six-coordinate ionic radius of the metal element included in the conductive metal particles, or the ionic radius ratio, is about 0.97 or greater and about 1.04 or less.

[0047] Overall, for NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 as the ABO.sub.3 oxides in samples 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 is equal to or close to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel as the conductive metal that is to be included in the inner electrodes. The energy difference between the oxide and nickel in the inner electrodes, therefore, is 0 or small, allowing the oxide to remain in the inner electrode portion rather than being expelled; the oxide acts to improve the heat resistance of the inner electrodes. Presumably as a result of this, samples 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 achieved a high coverage of 84% or more.

[0048] As can be seen from samples 5 to 7, furthermore, the percentage of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 added is not necessarily 100%; as long as the percentage was about 10% or more, for example, the advantage of improved coverage was observed compared with when none of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 was included. In addition, it is noted that in Experimental Example 1, the coverages of samples 5 to 7, in which the percentage of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 added is 10%, exhibit values equal to the coverages of samples 1 to 3, in which the percentage added is 100%.

[0049] In contrast to these, for sample 4, which was rated x, the ABO.sub.3 oxide was CuTiO.sub.3. The six-coordinate ionic radius of Cu, which is the A-site element in ABO.sub.3, is 0.73 , as presented in Table 1. Accordingly, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Cu to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel, or the ionic radius ratio, is 1.06. The ionic radius ratio, therefore, fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in a low coverage of 75%.

[0050] As for sample 8, which was also rated x, only BaTiO.sub.3 as a common material has been added to the inner electrodes. In this case, Ba that is the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 in the perovskite structure is twelve-coordinate, but when it dissolves in the A-site in the ilmenite structure, the comparison needs to be based on its six-coordinate ionic radius, the six being the coordination number of the A-site in the ilmenite structure. The six-coordinate ionic radius of Ba is, as presented in Table 1, 1.35 . Accordingly, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Ba to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel, or the ionic radius ratio, is 1.96. As a result, the ionic radius ratio fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in a low coverage of 74%.

[0051] For these samples 4 and 8, the ionic radius ratio fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in the expulsion of CuTiO.sub.3 and BaTiO.sub.3, respectively, from the inner electrode portion. Presumably as a result of this, the heat resistance of the inner electrodes was not improved, and the coverage was low.

Experimental Example 2

Base of the Ceramic Forming the Dielectric Layers: CaZrO.SUB.3

1. Preparation of a CaZrO.SUB.3 .Ceramic Raw Material That Will Form the Dielectric Layers

[0052] As starting materials, powders of CaCO.sub.3 and Zro.sub.2, which were base ingredients, and powders of MnO, SiO.sub.2, and MgO, which were minor ingredients, were weighed out and mixed together for 72 hours in a ball mill. Then the resulting mixture was subjected to heat treatment for 2 hours, with the maximum temperature being 1000 C. In this manner, a CaZrO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder was obtained.

2. Preparation of a Conductive Paste for the Formation of Inner Electrodes

[0053] A powder of the ABO.sub.3 oxide specified in Table 3, which will be provided later herein, and the CaZro.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder for dielectric layers described above were used as ceramic powders included in the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes.

[0054] These powder of an ABO.sub.3 oxide and CaZro.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder were weighed out to the percentages added specified in Table 3, and a conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes was prepared through the same steps as in the case of Experimental Example 1 above.

[0055] In Table 3, the ionic radius ratio (A-site element/metallic nickel) is presented as in the case of Table 2. It should be noted that for sample 18, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Ca (1.00 ), indicated in Table 1, to the six-coordinate ionic radius of Ni (0.69 ) is presented.

3. Production of a Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor

[0056] A ceramic slurry including the CaZrO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder prepared in 1 above was prepared, and then ceramic green sheets were shaped by applying doctor blading to the ceramic slurry. After that, the same steps as in the case of Experimental Example 1 were followed to produce a sample multilayer ceramic capacitor.

4. Evaluation

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Ionic radius ratio Percentage added (A-site ABO.sub.3 [% by volume] element/metallic Coverage Sample oxide ABO.sub.3 oxide CaZrO.sub.3 nickel) [%] Assessment 11 NiTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.00 84 12 MgTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.04 84 13 MnTiO.sub.3 100 0 0.97 83 14 CuTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.06 75 x 15 NiTiO.sub.3 10 90 1.00 83 16 MgTiO.sub.3 10 90 1.04 82 17 MnTiO.sub.3 10 90 0.97 81 18 0 100 1.45 72 x

[0057] The coverage was determined as presented in Table 3 following the same procedure as in the case of Experimental Example 1 and evaluated as in Experimental Example 1.

5. Discussion

[0058] Samples 11 to 13 and 15 to 17 in Table 3 received an assessment of o. For these samples 11 to 13 and 15 to 17, the inner electrodes include any of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 as an ABO.sub.3 oxide. The inner electrodes, furthermore, include nickel as a conductive material.

[0059] Ionic radii are focused on here. First, as indicated in the NiTiO.sub.3 section in Table 1, the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel is 0.69 . Meanwhile, the six-coordinate ionic radii of the A-site elements in NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 as the ABO.sub.3 oxides included in the inner electrodes of samples 11 to 13 and 15 to 17 are 0.69 , 0.72 , and 0.67 , respectively, as presented in Table 1.

[0060] For samples 11 to 13 and 15 to 17, which were rated o, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 to the six-coordinate ionic radius of the metal element included in the conductive metal particles, or the ionic radius ratio, is about 0.97 or greater and about 1.04 or less, for example.

[0061] Overall, for NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 as the ABO.sub.3 oxides in samples 11 to 13 and 15 to 17, the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 is equal to or close to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel as the conductive metal that is to be included in the inner electrodes. The energy difference between the oxide and nickel in the inner electrodes, therefore, is 0 or small, allowing the oxide to remain in the inner electrode portion rather than being expelled; the oxide acts to improve the heat resistance of the inner electrodes. Presumably as a result of this, samples 11 to 13 and 15 to 17 achieved a high coverage of 81% or more.

[0062] As can be seen from samples 15 to 17, furthermore, the percentage of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 added is not necessarily 100%; as long as the percentage was about 10% or more, for example, the advantage of improved coverage was observed compared with when none of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 was included.

[0063] In contrast to these, for sample 14, which was rated x, the ABO.sub.3 oxide was CuTiO.sub.3. The six-coordinate ionic radius of Cu, which is the A-site element in ABO.sub.3, is 0.73 , as presented in Table 1. Accordingly, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Cu to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel, or the ionic radius ratio, is 1.06. The ionic radius ratio, therefore, fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in a low coverage of 75%.

[0064] As for sample 18, which was also rated x, only CaZrO.sub.3 as a common material has been added to the inner electrodes. In this case, Ca that is the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 in the perovskite structure is twelve-coordinate, but when it dissolves in the A-site in the ilmenite structure, the comparison needs to be based on its six-coordinate ionic radius, the six being the coordination number of the A-site in the ilmenite structure. The six-coordinate ionic radius of Ca is, as presented in Table 1, 1.00 . Accordingly, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Ca to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel, or the ionic radius ratio, is 1.45. As a result, the ionic radius ratio fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in a low coverage of 72%.

[0065] For these samples 14 and 18, the ionic radius ratio fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in the expulsion of CuTiO.sub.3 and CaZrO.sub.3, respectively, from the inner electrode portion. Presumably as a result of this, the heat resistance of the inner electrodes was not improved, and the coverage was low.

Experimental Example 3

Base of the Ceramic Forming the Dielectric Layers: SrTiO.SUB.3

1. Preparation of a SrTiO.SUB.3 .Ceramic Raw Material That Will Form the Dielectric Layers

[0066] As starting materials, powders of SrCO.sub.3 and TiO.sub.3, which were base ingredients, and powders of Mno, SiO.sub.2, and MgO, which were minor ingredients, were weighed out and mixed together for 72 hours in a ball mill. Then the resulting mixture was subjected to heat treatment for 2 hours, with the maximum temperature being 1000 C. In this manner, a SrTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder was obtained.

2. Preparation of a Conductive Paste for the Formation of Inner Electrodes

[0067] A powder of the ABO.sub.3 oxide specified in Table 4, which will be provided later herein, and the SrTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder for dielectric layers described above were used as ceramic powders included in the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes.

[0068] These powder of an ABO.sub.3 oxide and SrTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder were weighed out to the percentages added specified in Table 4, and a conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes was prepared through the same steps as in the case of Experimental Example 1 above.

[0069] In Table 4, the ionic radius ratio (A-site element/metallic nickel) is presented as in the case of Table 2. It should be noted that for sample 28, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Sr (1.18 ), indicated in Table 1, to the six-coordinate ionic radius of Ni (0.69 ) is presented.

3. Production of a Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor

[0070] A ceramic slurry including the SrTiO.sub.3 ceramic raw material powder prepared in 1 above was prepared, and then ceramic green sheets were shaped by applying doctor blading to the ceramic slurry. After that, the same steps as in the case of Experimental Example 1 were followed to produce a sample multilayer ceramic capacitor.

4. Evaluation

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Ionic radius ratio Percentage added (A-site ABO.sub.3 [% by volume] element/metallic Coverage Sample oxide ABO.sub.3 oxide SrTiO.sub.3 nickel) [%] Assessment 21 NiTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.00 83 22 MgTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.04 83 23 MnTiO.sub.3 100 0 0.97 82 24 CuTiO.sub.3 100 0 1.06 72 x 25 NiTiO.sub.3 10 90 1.00 82 26 MgTiO.sub.3 10 90 1.04 82 27 MnTiO.sub.3 10 90 0.97 80 28 100 1.71 70 x

[0071] The coverage was determined as presented in Table 4 following the same procedure as in the case of Experimental Example 1 and evaluated as in Experimental Example 1.

5. Discussion

[0072] Samples 21 to 23 and 25 to 27 in Table 4 received an assessment of o. For these samples 21 to 23 and 25 to 27, the inner electrodes include any of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 as an ABO.sub.3 oxide. The inner electrodes, furthermore, include nickel as a conductive material.

[0073] Ionic radii are focused on here. First, as indicated in the NiTiO.sub.3 section in Table 1, the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel is 0.69 . Meanwhile, the six-coordinate ionic radii of the A-site elements in NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 as the ABO.sub.3 oxides included in the inner electrodes of samples 21 to 23 and 25 to 27 are 0.69 , 0.72 , and 0.67 , respectively, as presented in Table 1.

[0074] For samples 21 to 23 and 25 to 27, which were rated o, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 to the six-coordinate ionic radius of the metal element included in the conductive metal particles, or the ionic radius ratio, is about 0.97 or greater and about 1.04 or less.

[0075] Overall, for NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3 as the ABO.sub.3 oxides in samples 21 to 23 and 25 to 27, the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 is equal to or close to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel as the conductive metal that is to be included in the inner electrodes. The energy difference between the oxide and nickel in the inner electrodes, therefore, is 0 or small, allowing the oxide to remain in the inner electrode portion rather than being expelled; the oxide acts to improve the heat resistance of the inner electrodes. Presumably as a result of this, samples 21 to 23 and 25 to 27 achieved a high coverage of 80% or more.

[0076] As can be seen from samples 25 to 27, furthermore, the percentage of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 added is not necessarily 100%; as long as the percentage was about 10% or more, for example, the advantage of improved coverage was observed compared with when none of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, or MnTiO.sub.3 was included.

[0077] In contrast to these, for sample 24, which was rated x, the ABO.sub.3 oxide was CuTiO.sub.3. The six-coordinate ionic radius of Cu, which is the A-site element in ABO.sub.3, is 0.73 , as presented in Table 1. Accordingly, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Cu to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel, or the ionic radius ratio, is 1.06. The ionic radius ratio, therefore, fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in a low coverage of 72%.

[0078] As for sample 28, which was also rated x, only SrTiO.sub.3 as a common material has been added to the inner electrodes. In this case, Sr that is the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 in the perovskite structure is twelve-coordinate, but when it dissolves in the A-site in the ilmenite structure, the comparison needs to be based on its six-coordinate ionic radius, the six being the coordination number of the A-site in the ilmenite structure. The six-coordinate ionic radius of Sr is, as presented in Table 1, 1.18 . Accordingly, the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of Sr to the six-coordinate ionic radius of nickel, or the ionic radius ratio, is 1.71. As a result, the ionic radius ratio fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in a low coverage of 70%.

[0079] For these samples 24 and 28, the ionic radius ratio fell outside the range of about 0.97 to about 1.04, resulting in the expulsion of CuTiO.sub.3 and SrTiO.sub.3, respectively, from the inner electrode portion. Presumably as a result of this, the heat resistance of the inner electrodes was not improved, and the coverage was low.

[0080] In Experimental Examples 1 to 3 described above, the conductive metal powder included in the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes was a nickel powder. Given that commercially available multilayer ceramic capacitors are made using nickel as a conductive material of their inner electrodes in many cases, the use of a nickel powder as a conductive metal powder included in the conductive paste for the formation of inner electrodes is advantageous in that it helps reduce design changes.

[0081] It is, however, also possible to use a conductive metal powder other than a nickel powder. The powder of at least one oxide of ABO.sub.3 type with a specified ionic radius as at least a portion of the ceramic powder included in the conductive paste, therefore, may be a powder of an oxide other than at least one of NiTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MnTiO.sub.3. In other words, the oxide of ABO.sub.3 type with a specified ionic radius can be any oxide of ABO.sub.3 type as long as it is one in which the ratio of the six-coordinate ionic radius of the A-site element in ABO.sub.3 to the six-coordinate ionic radius of the metal element included in the conductive metal powder included in the conductive paste is about 0.97 or greater and about 1.04 or less.

[0082] While example embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.