High field ZnO varistors prepared by spark plasma sintering

ZnO varistors with submicrometre and nanoscaled microstructures and enhanced electrical properties were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The densification, grain size and switch field of the varistors were compared with those of hot pressed material. The switching field increased with decreasing grain size, and very rapidly below 500 nm. Switching fields up to 180 kV cm⁻¹ were obtained for ceramics with submicrometre grain sizes (380 nm). This is nearly two orders of magnitude higher than those currently reported for commercial ZnO varistors. A nano powder, prepared by high energy milling, was sintered to a high density at much lower temperatures compared with the submicron powders and had a nanoscale grain size (45 nm). The nanoceramic broke down dielectrically under very high fields (>260 kV cm⁻¹) before a varistive response was apparent.