Facile large-scale preparation of high-performance copper electrode materials for BaTiO₃ ceramic capacitors

An accessible and cost-effective approach for preparation of copper layers used as electrode materials of ceramic capacitors based on inkjet printing and electroless plating technique has been investigated. An Ag(I) ink was inkjet-printed on the pretreated barium titanate (BaTiO₃) ceramics to catalyze the growth of copper film in subsequent electroless plating. The ink concentration was explored to achieve best catalytic effect, as well as the pretreatment time and the copper plating time were investigated to guarantee desirable film morphology and performance. SEM, XRD and sheet resistance test were conducted to analyze the morphological, structural and electrical properties of copper films. By applying this approach, a continuous copper film with high crystallization and fine morphology was obtained, which showed excellent electrical and mechanical performances with a resistivity as low as 3.77 × 10⁻⁸ Ω m and a reliable adhesion strength. The copper electrodes could be prepared in large scale, and the ceramic capacitors with such copper layers had been proven to meet the requirements of industrial application as filter components. Easily-achieved mass production and superiority over commercial products in electrical and mechanical performance of the copper electrodes make the approach a better alternative for preparation of electrodes of ceramic capacitors in industrial production.