Increasing Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Lifetime With Bipolar Voltage Cycling

Journal Article · Fri Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2024 · IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/tcpmt.2024.3493964· OSTI ID:2584390

Chuong, Kayla Y. ^[1]; Bock, Jon A. ^[2]; Patterson, Eric A. ^[3]; Brown-Shaklee, Harlan J. ^[2]; Graber, Lukas ^[1]; Garten, Lauren M. ^[1]

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1. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
3. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Washington, DC (United States)

Enhancing the lifetime of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) is critical in many aerospace, naval, or electrical grid applications, where device failure could lead to catastrophic consequences. The migration of oxygen vacancies from the ceramic to the electrode interface under constant bias is known to reduce the lifetime of oxide-based MLCCs. Bias cycling presents an opportunity to enhance MLCC lifetime by reducing oxygen vacancy migration. The ideal frequency range is expected to lie between frequencies low enough to avoid self-heating but high enough to avoid interfacial defect formation. However, the impact of low-frequency bipolar voltage cycling (BVC) on MLCC degradation mechanisms has not been well studied. This work investigates the impact of periodic BVC on the degradation of MLCCs through highly accelerated lifetime testing (HALT) on X7R capacitors. HALT tests were conducted at 255 °C and 60 V using different switching frequencies: 0 (dc), 0.1, 2.5, and 10 Hz. BVC was found to improve the lifetime of MLCCs compared to dc test conditions. MLCCs tested at 10-Hz BVC showed a 311% increase in average time to failure compared to the dc case. Impedance spectroscopy shows that BVC decreases the rate of resistance degradation within MLCCs, indicating that oxygen vacancy migration to the electrodes is mitigated. The impedance spectra taken on BVC samples highlight how grain boundaries play a vital role in trapping oxygen vacancies. Periodic cycling causes oxygen vacancies to become trapped at grain boundaries, resulting in oxygen vacancies taking longer to reach the electrode interface and thus increasing MLCC lifetime. This work highlights not only how BVC can be used to increase MLCC lifetime but also how periodically cycling MLCCs could increase lifetime in extreme environments, such as at elevated temperatures and electric fields.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO)
• Grant/Contract Number: AR0001113; AR0001524; NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 2584390
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 15; ISSN 2156-3985; ISSN 2156-3950
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English