E-J Characteristics in Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors with the Thin Dielectric Layers

The factors causing a decrease in the resistivity of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) with a decrease in the thickness of dielectric layers were examined by carrying out measurements and finite element method (FEM) simulations. The obtained electric field vs. current density plots (E-J characteristics) indicated that the local concentration of electric field increased with the decrease in the thickness of the dielectric layers. The investigation of the local concentration of electric field at the grain boundaries using an FEM showed that the decrease in resistivity was caused by the roughness of the interface between dielectric layers and inner electrodes and the presence of large grains in the dielectric layers.