Such devices are composed of oxides and metals – the oxides provide the product's electric, optical or magnetic properties, while the metals are used in electrodes. Fabricating these products is difficult because the physical properties of the oxides and metals are very different and the manufacturing process needs to account a range of factors.
The scientists have investigated the potential of replacing metal electrodes in ceramic based electronics with conductive oxides. Doing so, says the team, could allow for more innovations in the ceramics industry. Oxide electrodes in these ceramic based products would need to be highly conductive (more than 1000Siemens/cm) and stable in air at temperatures of up to 1173K.
The research team, from NGK Spark Plug and Nagoya University, fabricated oxides that have the potential to replace metal electrodes and investigated their physical properties at elevated temperatures. Lanthanum based perovskites were chosen as having a potential for industrial use because they do not contain expensive rare metals, they are not environmentally hazardous, and they are stable in air up to 1173K.
Based on their investigations, the team found the perovskite type oxide LaCo0.5Ni0.5O3 showed high electronic conduction at high temperatures in air and was suitable for the fabrication of oxide electrodes and wiring in ceramic based products.
