Processing of La^sub 2^O3 based rare earth non-linear resistors via combustion synthesis

Non Linear ceramic Resistor (NLR) was processed using ZnO-La^sub 2^O3 rare earth composition via combustion technique involving urea and glycine as organic fuels. The La^sub 2^O3 NLR ceramic was sintered at 1300 °C/ 3 h that showed dense microstructures with average grain size of 1 [mu]m. The current v/s voltage characteristics of La^sub 2^O3 NLR were compared among the fuels. In addition to that the combustion chemistry of urea and glycine was monitored via C-H-N-S analysis and the functional property was assessed by UV-Vis analysis. The I-V analysis confirmed that the La^sub 2^O3 NLR ceramic prepared with urea fuels exhibits only a linear resistor behavior whereas an excellent non-ohmic nature was obtained in glycine fuels. The grain-grain boundary property was further examined by impedance analysis. The study brought out a promising, eco-friendly rare earth composition for obtaining high-energy NLR ceramics.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]