Electrical properties of thick-film NTC thermistor composed of Ni0.8Co0.2Mn2O4 ceramic: Effect of inorganic oxide binder

The thick-film NTC thermistors were prepared by screen printing Ni0.8Co0.2Mn2O4 ceramic on the alumina. The influence of inorganic oxide binder composition and thickness of thermistor layer on the thermistor constant and initial resistivity are studied. The relation between the resistivity (ρ) and the absolute temperature for the prepared thick-film thermistor comply with Arrhenius equation. The room temperature sheet resistivities of the thick films were in the range 0.56–7.45 MΩ cm and temperature sensitivity index in the range 1492–3335 K. Binder composition dependent agglomeration of microcrystallites is observed in the microstructure of the thick-film Ni0.8Co0.2Mn2O4 ceramic. The spinel ceramic was prepared by oxalate co-precipitation and sintering.