Synthesis and sintering behaviors of core-shell Ni@CrOx nanocapsules as an internal electrode of MLCC

A chromium oxide-coated Ni nanocapsules (NCs) were successfully in-situ fabricated using a DC arc plasma in nitrogen atmosphere. Co-evaporation of the mixture target consisting of coarse Cr2O3 and Ni powders harvested the core-shell Ni@CrOx nanocapsules that obeyed preferential oxidization of elements according to their oxygen potentials and subsequent nucleation and growth processes. In comparison with pure Ni nanoparticles (NPs), the Ni@CrOx NCs exhibited an excellent oxidation resistance (-40 degrees C increased), raised onset temperature of sintering, and appropriate shrinkage (-6.8 % volume change at 1200 degrees C). The CrOx shell and Ni core have exhibited better compatibility in individual nanoparticles, potentially qualified as an ideal candidate material for the next generation of multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs).