Gaseous Penetration of Sm into BaTiO3∶Mn0.006Smx Ceramics and Their NTC Effect

BaTiO3∶Mn0.006Smx(x=0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.006 respectively) ceramics were prepared by using sol-gel method and their resistivities at different temperatures were measured. The results showed that Mn element may enhance the PTC characteristics of BaTiO3 ceramics. But the doped Mn element deteriorated the room temperature resistivities of the modified BaTiO3 ceramics which were greater than 105 Ω·m. Then, rare earth element Sm was penetrated into BaTiO3∶Mn0.06Smx ceramics in gaseous state, which largely decreased the room temperature resistivity to 3.20 Ω·m, and appeared as a NTC effect instead of PTC effect. The forming mechanism of NTC effect was explored through analyses of SEM and electric properties of Sm-penetrated BaTiO3∶Mn0.006Smx ceramics.