Synthesis and Electrical Characteristics of Ba0.57Sr0.39Ca0.03Ti1.01NbxO3 Positive Temperature Coefficient Ceramics

doi:10.15541/jim20250446

Abstract

Abstract: Low Curie temperature Barium titanate-based positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramics, which exhibit significant resistivity changes with temperature in low temperature environments, fulfill the demand for precise temperature sensor components and hold broad application potential in deep space exploration. However, achieving both low low-temperature resistivity and high PTC intensity remains challenging in low Curie temperature barium titanate-based PTC materials. This study focuses on optimizing the performance of low-Curie-temperature barium titanate-based PTC ceramics through element doping, addressing the critical contradiction between elevated low-temperature resistivity and insufficient PTC intensity. A low Curie temperature barium titanate-based PTC thermistor ceramic material Ba_0.57Sr_0.39Ca_0.03Ti_1.01Nb_xO₃ was prepared via solid-state synthesis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electric tests were implemented to clarify the mechanism of structures and properties. Electrical property tests on samples sintered at different temperatures confirmed 1375 ℃ as the optimal sintering temperature. XRD analysis verified single crystalline phase composition. SEM images confirmed niobium’s role in grain refinement. Resistivity-temperature tests on samples with varying Nb doping content showed that at x = 0.0025 and 0.0030, the low-temperature resistivity dropped to 10³ Ω·cm with a PTC intensity of 6, demonstrating excellent PTC characteristics. Dielectric constant-temperature spectra further confirmed the Curie temperature at 0 ℃ and the dielectric constant showed an oscillatory increase with the rise of Nb doping content. AC complex impedance spectra revealed that the PTC effect originates from grain boundary effects. Strontium doping reduced the Curie temperature to 0 ℃, while niobium as a donor dopant decreased the low-temperature resistivity. Manganese was introduced to enhance the PTC intensity. This study pioneered the fabrication of barium titanate-based PTC ceramics exhibiting low Curie temperatures, exceptionally small low-temperature resistivity, and high PTC intensity, establishing a paradigm shift for developing cryogenic temperature sensors critical to aerospace thermal management systems.

Key words: barium taitanate, low Curie temperature, PTC thermistor ceramics

CLC Number:

TQ174

ZHOU Wenhao, OUYANG Qi, MA Mingsheng, LU Yiqing, LIU Zhifu. Synthesis and Electrical Characteristics of Ba_0.57Sr_0.39Ca_0.03Ti_1.01Nb_xO₃ Positive Temperature Coefficient Ceramics[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20250446.

References

[1] FENG J C, ZHANG X F, LIAO X,et al. Spacecraft intelligent autonomous thermal control method based on space environment prediction. Spacecraft Engineering, 2021, 30(05): 45.
[2] BECKER J A, GREEN C B, PEARSON G L.Properties and uses of thermistors-thermally sensitive resistors.Electrical Engineering, 1946, 65(11): 711.
[3] LI Y Y, LI G R, WANG T B,et al. Effects of niobium-doping on the structure and electrical properties of (Ba,Bi,Na)TiO₃-based PTCR ceramics. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2009, 24(2): 374.
[4] AHN J H, LEEGHIM H, LEE C Y.Resistance characteristics and particle arrangement of smart paint for surface temperature sensor.Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2020, 20(7): 4263.
[5] ZHANG W, ZHAO R, CHENG W-L.Temperature control performance of a spaceborne PTC heating system: dynamic modeling and parametric analysis.Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 2023, 44: 102062.
[6] BAKHTIAR S U H, DONG T, XUE B,et al. Positive temperature coefficient materials for intelligent overload protection in the new energy era. Materials Today, 2023, 71: 108.
[7] YU A, LI Q, FAN D,et al. Study on positive temperature coefficient of resistivity of co-doped BaTiO₃ with Curie temperature in room temperature region. Science China Technological Sciences, 2019, 62(5): 811.
[8] YU A, LI Q.Temperature-dependent resistivity performance of Mn/Y-doped Ba₁-_xSr_xTiO₃ compositions with potential thermal control applications. Ceramics International, 2020, 46(7): 8796.
[9] SANG Z K, ZHAO R, CHENG W L.Study on temperature control characteristics of low-resistivity ceramic-based PTC material.Journal of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2023, 49(08): 2147.
[10] ZHOU Y X, YANG D, JIANG G M,et al. Effect of Y₂O₃ doping on dielectric-temperature and resistivity-temperature characteristics of barium strontium titanate ceramics. High Voltage Engineering, 2023, 49(11): 4686.
[11] WANG Y, CHEN X.Investigation of the positive temperature coefficient resistivity of Nb-doped Ba_0.55Sr_0.45TiO₃ ceramics.Crystals, 2024, 14(5): 419.
[12] XU W, WANG W, ZHANG X, et al.(Ba_0.55Sr_0.45)₁-_xLa_xTi_1.01O₃-Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ positive temperature coefficient resistivity ceramics with low Curie temperature, 2024, 17(8): 1812.
[13] PU Y, WU H, WEI J,et al. Influence of doping Nb⁵+ and Mn²+ on the PTCR effects of Ba_0.92Ca_0.05(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.03TiO₃ ceramics. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 2011, 22(9): 1479.
[14] LENG S L, JIA F H, ZHONG Z K,et al. Fabrication of high T_C BaTiO₃-(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃ lead-free positive temperature coefficient of resistivity ceramics. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2015, 30(6): 576.
[15] CHENG X, CHEN X, LI X,et al. Influence of Ba/Ti ratio on PTCR effect of Ba_m(Ti₁-_xNb_x)O₃ ceramics prepared by the reduction sintering-reoxidation method. Modern Physics Letters B, 2018, 32(34n36): 1840071.
[16] LIU Y S.The preparation and applications of the PTC thermistor heater.Piezoelectrics & Acoustooptics, 1981(4): 45.
[17] MORRISON F D, COATS A M, SINCLAIR D C, et al. Charge compensation mechanisms in La-doped BaTiO₃. Journal of Electroceramics, 2001, 6(3): 219.
[18] LENG S, CHENG H, ZHANG R,et al. Electrical properties of La-Mn-codoped BaTiO₃-(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃ lead-free PTCR ceramics. Ceramics International, 2021, 47(21): 30963.
[19] BELL J G, GRAULE T, STUER M.Barium titanate-based thermistors: Past achievements, state of the art, and future perspectives.Applied Physics Reviews, 2021, 8(3): 031318.
[20] SETTER N, CROSS L E.The role of B-site cation disorder in diffuse phase transition behavior of perovskite ferroelectrics.Journal of Applied Physics, 1980, 51(8): 4356.
[21] HENNINGS D.Barium titanate based ceramic materials for dielectric use.International Journal of High Technology Ceramics, 1987, 3(2): 91.
[22] LI Y L, QU Y F.Substitution preference and dielectric properties of Y³+-doped Ba_0.62Sr_0.38TiO₃ ceramics.Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2008, 110(1): 155.
[23] ZHAO R Y, OUYANG Q, MA M S,et al. Influence of content of Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ and Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃ on the properties of lead-free PTC ceramics of the ternary solid solution system. Materials Reports, 2023, 37(10): 114.
[24] TANG X F, TANG Z L, ZHOU Z G.Complex impedance spectra of BaTiO₃ based PTCR ceramics.Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2000, 15(6): 1037.
[25] LIU J, JIN G, CHEN Y,et al. Properties of yttrium-doped barium titanate ceramics with positive temperature coefficient of resistivity and a novel method to evaluate the depletion layer width. Ceramics International, 2019, 45(5): 6119.
[26] HAO S E,WEI Y D.Effects of Sm₂O₃ doping on structure and electric characteristics of BaTiO₃ ceramics.Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2003(05): 1069.

Synthesis and Electrical Characteristics of Ba_0.57Sr_0.39Ca_0.03Ti_1.01Nb_xO₃ Positive Temperature Coefficient Ceramics

PDF (PC)

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

References

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	ZHANG Guangheng, SHI Jinyu, SHEN Hongyu, ZHANG Jie, WANG Jingyang. Synergistic Mechanism of Gd³⁺ and Yb³⁺ on Crystallization Behavior of CMAS Corrosion Products [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(1): 27-36.
[2]	GAO Yuan, WEI Bo, JIN Fangjun, LÜ Zhe, LING Yihan. Ag Doping Modulating Cathode Acidic Sites to Enhance Chromium Resistance for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(1): 70-78.
[3]	ZHANG Yongheng, CHEN Jixin. Preparation and Properties of Ytterbium Aluminosilicate Glass and SiC Modified h-BN-based Composites [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(1): 37-44.
[4]	YUAN Zihao, XU Yinsheng, LI Xinkuo, TAN Dezhi. Femtosecond Laser Modulation on Luminescence Properties of CdS Quantum Dot Glasses [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(1): 105-112.
[5]	HAN Weiwei, HUANG Dong, LI Tingsong, LI Jiang. Sm:LuAG/Nd:LuAG Composite Laser Ceramics with Cladding Structure: Fabrication and Properties [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(1): 113-118.
[6]	XU Jintao, GAO Pan, HE Weiyi, JIANG Shengnan, PAN Xiuhong, TANG Meibo, CHEN Kun, LIU Xuechao. Recent Progress on Preparation of 3C-SiC Single Crystal [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(1): 1-11.
[7]	LING Yihan, GUO Sheng, CAO Zhiqiang, TIAN Yunfeng, LIU Fangsheng, JIN Fangjun, GAO Yuan. Research Progress on Preparation Technologies and Performance of Straight-pore Electrode Structures for Solid Oxide Cells [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(12): 1311-1323.
[8]	WU Mingxuan, LI Junjie, CHEN Shuo, YAN Yonggao, SU Xianli, ZHANG Qingjie, TANG Xinfeng. Homogeneity of Zone-melted n-type Bi_1.96Sb_0.04Te_2.70Se_0.30 Thermoelectric Material [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(11): 1252-1260.
[9]	ZHANG Haifeng, JIANG Meng, SUN Tingting, WANG Lianjun, JIANG Wan. Preparation of p-type GeMnTe₂Based Thermoelectric Materials with Stable Cubic Phase [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(11): 1245-1251.
[10]	LI Chengming, ZHOU Chuang, LIU Peng, ZHENG Liping, LAI Yongji, CHEN Liangxian, LIU Jinlong, WEI Junjun. Stress in CVD Diamond Films: Generation, Suppression, Application, and Measurement [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(11): 1188-1200.
[11]	YUAN Long, JIA Ru, YUAN Meng, ZHANG Jian, DUAN Yu, MENG Xiangdong. Mechanism and Application of X-ray Induced Photochromic Materials: A Review [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(10): 1097-1110.
[12]	AI Yizhaotong, REN Jiulong, QIANG Linya, ZHANG Xiaozhen, YANG Kai, GAO Yanfeng. Friction and Wear Properties of Al₂O₃-GdAlO₃ (GAP) Amorphous Ceramic Coatings under High Load Capacity [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(10): 1111-1118.
[13]	CAO Luhan, MENG Jia, XUE Yudong, SHENG Xiaochen, CUI Yuanyuan, LE Jun, SONG Lixin. Effect of SiC Transition Layer on Bonding Properties of MoSi₂-SABB Coating on SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(10): 1119-1128.
[14]	WAN Xinyi, WANG Wenqi, LI Jiacheng, ZHAO Junliang, MA Dongyun, WANG Jinmin. Colorless/Black Switching Electrochromic Device Based on WO₃·xH₂O and Reversible Metal Electrodeposition [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(10): 1163-1174.
[15]	ZHAO Lihua, WANG Yanshuai, YIN Xinwu, MAO Yeqiong, NIU Dechao. Bismuth Sulfide Nanoclusters-loaded Silica-based Hybrid Micelles: Preparation and Photothermal Antibacterial Property [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(10): 1129-1136.