X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of molybdenum added to BaTiO 3 -based ceramics used for multilayer ceramic capacitors

The effect of slight molybdenum doping of perovskite-type BaTiO 3 -based ceramics on the reliability of a multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) and on the valence state of molybdenum in the BaTiO 3 -based ceramics has been investigated by highly accelerated lifetime tests and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The molybdenum added to the BaTiO 3 -based ceramics is located at Ti sites and improves the highly accelerated lifetime and lowers the initial dielectric resistivity in MLCCs. Through sintering in a reducing atmosphere, which is an important process in the fabrication of BaTiO 3 -based MLCCs, the oxidation state of the molybdenum added could be adjusted from +6 to a value close to +4.