Nonlinear I–V characteristics in doped ZnO based-ceramic varistor

Two similar sets of Zn1−xFexO ceramic samples with various x values (0.000.30. With increasing Fe content, a nonlinear region, obtained from I–V characteristics, clearly appears and is shifted to higher fields. Furthermore, the nonlinear coefficients are generally increased by adding Fe up to x=0.30, followed by a decrease at x=0.50. Moreover, the values of the barrier heights are also generally increased with Fe up to x=0.10 and kept unchanged with further Fe content. On the other hand, the electrical conductivities at room temperature are measured and their values are found to be decreasing with increasing Fe content, as compared to those of an undoped ZnO sample. Our results are discussed in terms of both point defects and intrinsic donors, which are produced by Fe doping in the ZnO ceramic system.