Microstructure and electrical characteristics of MnTa-doped ZnO-V2O5-ceramics with sintering

The microstructure and electrical properties of MnTa-doped ZnO-V2O5-ceramics with sintering was investigated. The microstructure consisted of a primary phase of ZnO grains and minor secondary phases such as Zn-3(VO4)(2), ZnV2O4, and TaVO5, which act as liquid-phase sintering aids. The sintered density decreased from 5.69 gcm(-3) to 5.52 gcm(-3) due to the volatility of V2O5 in accordance with increasing sintering temperature. The maximum nonlinear coefficient (28) was obtained at 925 C. The donor concentration increased from 1.07 x 10(18) cm(-3) to 3.56 x 10(18) cm(-3) in accordance with increasing sintering temperature and the barrier height exhibited the maximum value (1.25 eV) at 950 degrees C. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.