Multilayer electronic component

A multilayer electronic component includes a body including dielectric layers and internal electrodes alternately disposed with the dielectric layers and external electrodes disposed on the body and connected to the internal electrodes. The one of the internal electrodes includes Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb, and a content of Tb relative to a sum of contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb is 0.45 to 3.0 wt %.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0155481 filed on Nov. 19, 2020 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

BACKGROUND

A multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC), a multilayer electronic component, is a chip-type condenser mounted on the printed circuit boards of various types of electronic products such as display devices including liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and plasma display panels (PDPs), computers, smartphones, cell phones, and the like, to allow electricity to be charged therein and discharged therefrom.

The MLCC, advantageously compact, ensures high capacitance, facilitates mounting, and thus may be used as a component of various types of electronic devices. Recently, as components of electronic devices have been miniaturized, demand for smaller multilayer ceramic capacitors having higher capacitance has increased.

To reduce a size and to increase capacitance of multilayer ceramic capacitors, a technology for forming thinner internal electrodes and dielectric layers is required.

However, as the internal electrodes and the dielectric layers are reduced in thickness, internal electrode connectivity may be deteriorated and an internal thickness deviation may increase, thereby reducing reliability.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure may provide a multilayer electronic component including internal electrodes having improved reliability.

An aspect of the present disclosure may also provide a multilayer electronic component including internal electrodes having improved electrode connectivity.

An aspect of the present disclosure may also provide a multilayer electronic component including internal electrodes having a reduced thickness deviation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure may also provide a compact, high-capacitance multilayer electronic component having high reliability.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a multilayer electronic component may include: a body including dielectric layers and internal electrodes alternately disposed with the dielectric layers; and external electrodes disposed on the body and connected to the internal electrodes. One of the internal electrodes includes Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb, and a content of Tb relative to a sum of contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb is 0.45 to 3.0 wt %.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a multilayer electronic component may include: a body including dielectric layers and internal electrodes alternately disposed with the dielectric layers; and external electrodes disposed on the body and connected to the internal electrodes. One of the internal electrodes and one of the dielectric layers in contact with the one of the internal electrodes may include Tb.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, an X direction may be defined as a second direction, an L direction, or a length direction, a Y direction may be defined as a third direction, a W direction, or a width direction, and a Z direction may be defined as a first direction, a stacking direction, a T direction, or a thickness direction.

Methods and/or tools appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, even if not described in the present disclosure, may also be used in measuring a parameter described in the present disclosure.

Multilayer Electronic Component

FIG.1is a schematic perspective view of a multilayer electronic component according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG.2is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ ofFIG.1.

FIG.3is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ ofFIG.1.

FIG.4is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a body in which a dielectric layer and an internal electrode are stacked according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, a multilayer electronic component according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.1through4.

A multilayer electronic component100may include: a body110including dielectric layers111and internal electrodes121and122alternately disposed with the dielectric layers111; and external electrodes131and132disposed on the body110and connected to the internal electrodes121and122. The internal electrodes include Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb, and the content of Tb relative to the sum of the contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb is 0.45 to 3.0 wt %.

In the body110, the dielectric layer111and the internal electrodes121and122are alternately stacked.

There is no particular limitation to a specific shape of the body110but, as shown, the body110may have a hexahedral shape or a shape similar thereto. Due to contraction (or shrinkage) of ceramic powder particles included in the body110during a firing process, the body110may have a substantially hexahedral shape, but may not have a hexahedral shape with perfectly straight lines.

The body110may have first and second surfaces1and2opposing each other in the thickness direction (Z direction), third and fourth surfaces3and4connected to the first and second surfaces1and2and opposing each other in the length direction (X direction), and fifth and sixth surfaces5and6connected to the first and second surfaces1and2, connected to the third and fourth surfaces3and4, and opposing each other in the width direction (Y direction).

A plurality of dielectric layers111forming the body110are in a sintered state, and adjacent dielectric layers111may be integrated such that boundaries therebetween may not be readily apparent without using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

According to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, a raw material for forming the dielectric layer111is not limited as long as sufficient electrostatic capacitance may be obtained. For example, a barium titanate-based material, a lead composite perovskite-based material, or a strontium titanate-based material may be used. The barium titanate-based material may include BaTiO3-based ceramic powder particles, and the ceramic powder particles may include BaTiO3and (Ba1-xCax)TiO3, Ba(Ti1-yCay)O3, (Ba1-xCax)(Ti1-yZry)O3, or Ba(Ti1-yZry)O3obtained by partially dissolving calcium (Ca), zirconium (Zr), and the like in BaTiO3.

As a material for forming the dielectric layer111, various ceramic additives, organic solvents, plasticizers, binders, dispersants, etc. may be added to the powder particles such as barium titanate (BaTiO3) according to purposes of the present disclosure.

Meanwhile, a thickness td of the dielectric layer111may not be limited.

However, in general, if the dielectric layer is formed to be thin to have a thickness less than 0.6 μm, in particular, if the thickness of the dielectric layer is 0.41 μm or less, reliability may be degraded.

As described below, according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, even when the dielectric layer and the internal electrode are very thin, reliability may be improved by effectively delaying initial sintering of the internal electrodes, and thus, sufficient reliability may be ensured even when the thickness of the dielectric layer is 0.41 μm or less.

Therefore, when the thickness of the dielectric layer111is 0.41 μm or less, the effect of improving reliability according to the present disclosure may be more remarkable.

The thickness td of the dielectric layer111may refer to an average thickness of the dielectric layer111disposed between the first and second internal electrodes121and122.

The average thickness of the dielectric layer111may be measured by scanning an image of a length-thickness (L-T) directional cross-section of the body110with a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

For example, regarding a certain dielectric layer extracted from an image of the length-thickness (L-T) cross-section taken in a central portion of the body110in the width direction with the SEM, thicknesses thereof may be measured at 30 points at equal intervals in the length direction, and an average value thereof may be calculated.

The thicknesses measured at 30 equally spaced points may be measured at a capacitance forming portion A which refers to a region in which the first and second internal electrodes121and122overlap each other.

The body110may include the capacitance forming portion A formed inside the body110and forming capacitance with the first internal electrode121and the second internal electrode122disposed to face each other with the dielectric layer111interposed therebetween and cover portions112and113formed above and below the capacitance forming portion A.

In addition, the capacitance forming portion A is a part that contributes to formation of capacitance of the capacitor, which may be formed by repeatedly stacking a plurality of first and second internal electrodes121and122with the dielectric layer111interposed therebetween.

The upper cover portion112and the lower cover portion113may be formed by stacking a single dielectric layer or two or more dielectric layers on upper and lower surfaces of the capacitance forming portion A in the thickness direction, respectively, and may serve to prevent damage to the internal electrodes due to physical or chemical stress.

The upper cover portion112and the lower cover portion113may not include an internal electrode and may include the same material as that of the dielectric layer111.

That is, the upper cover portion112and the lower cover portion113may include a ceramic material, for example, a barium titanate (BaTiO3)-based ceramic material.

Meanwhile, a thickness of the cover portions112and113may not be limited. However, a thickness tp of the cover portions112and113may be 20 μm or less in order to more easily achieve miniaturization and high capacitance in the multilayer electronic component.

In addition, margin portions114and115may be disposed on side surfaces of the capacitance forming portion A.

The margin portions114and115may include a margin portion114disposed on the sixth surface6of the body110and a margin portion115disposed on the fifth surface5of the body110. That is, the margin portions114and115may be disposed on both side surfaces of the ceramic body110in the width direction.

As shown inFIG.3, the margin portions114and115may refer to a region between both ends of the first and second internal electrodes121and122and a boundary surface of the body110in a cross-section taken in the width-thickness (W-T) direction of the body110.

The margin portions114and115may basically serve to prevent damage to the internal electrodes due to physical or chemical stress.

The margin portions114and115may be formed as the internal electrodes are formed by applying a conductive paste to a ceramic green sheet excluding a region where the margin portions are to be formed.

In addition, in order to suppress a step difference due to the internal electrodes121and122, the margin portions114and115may be formed by cutting the internal electrodes to be exposed to the fifth and sixth surfaces5and6of the body after stacking and subsequently stacking a single dielectric layer or two or more dielectric layers on both side surfaces of the capacitance forming portion A in the width direction.

The internal electrodes121and122are alternately stacked with the dielectric layer111.

The internal electrodes121and122may include first and second internal electrodes121and122. The first and second internal electrodes121and122may be alternately disposed to face each other with a dielectric layer111configuring the body110interposed therebetween and may be exposed to the third and fourth surfaces3and4of the body110, respectively.

Referring toFIG.2, the first internal electrode121may be spaced apart from the fourth surface4and exposed to the third surface3, and the second internal electrode122may be spaced apart from the third surface3and exposed to the fourth surface4.

In this case, the first and second internal electrodes121and122may be electrically separated from each other by the dielectric layer111disposed therebetween.

Referring toFIG.4, the body110may be formed by alternately stacking a ceramic green sheet on which the first internal electrode121is printed and a ceramic green sheet on which the second internal electrode122is printed and subsequently firing the green sheets.

The internal electrodes121and122of the present disclosure include Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and terbium (Tb), and the content of Tb relative to the sum of the contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O and Tb may be 0.45 to 3.0 wt %. Accordingly, initial sintering of the internal electrodes may be reduced to reduce sintering mismatch between the internal electrodes and the dielectric layers, thereby improving connectivity of the internal electrodes and reducing a thickness deviation of the internal electrodes.

In addition, during sintering, Tb of the internal electrode may squeeze out to the dielectric layer and may be selectively substituted with an A-site or B-site of BaTiO3in the dielectric layer to suppress oxygen vacancies, thereby improving reliability.

In general, rare earth elements are known to stabilize temperature dependence (TCC) of a relative dielectric constant, lower a dissipation factor (DF), and increase a lifetime of a product, when added to dielectrics. In addition, it is known that the electrical properties of dielectrics vary depending on the type and content of rare earth elements.

Addition of rare earth ions having a medium ion radius to BaTiO3(BT) enables both side substitutions (A site and B site). If an appropriate time for thermal energy and migration of elements is given, the rare earth ions may selectively enter A site or B site to balance an acceptor and a donor, thereby improving electrical characteristics and reliability of the capacitor.

Rare earth elements have an ion radius smaller than Ba2+, so they are easy to be substituted on the A site. Compared to other rare-earth elements which are 3+ ions, terbium has both 3+ and 4+ qualities, so that even when terbium is substituted to a B site (Ti4+), there is no shortage of electrons, which is more advantageous for balancing the acceptor and the donor.

In the present disclosure, unlike the related art, by including Tb in the internal electrode, initial sintering of the internal electrodes is delayed to reduce sintering mismatch between the internal electrodes and the dielectric layer, thereby improving connectivity of the internal electrodes and reducing a thickness deviation of the internal electrodes. In addition, during firing, Tb of the internal electrode squeezes out to be selectively substituted to A-site or B-site of BaTiO3 of the dielectric layer to suppress oxygen vacancy.

If the content of Tb included in the internal electrodes after completion of sintering is less than 0.45 wt % of the sum of the contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O and Tb, the effect of delaying initial sintering of the internal electrodes is insufficient, leading to a possibility that internal electrode connectivity is lowered and a thickness deviation of the internal electrodes increases.

Meanwhile, if the content of Tb included in the internal electrode exceeds 3.0 wt % of to the sum of the contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O and Tb, the internal electrode connectivity is rather low and the thickness deviation of the internal electrode may increase.

According to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, the internal electrodes121and122may have internal electrode connectivity of 85% or more.

Internal electrode connectivity may be defined as a ratio of a length of a portion where the internal electrode is actually formed to a total length of the internal electrode.

For example, as shown inFIG.5, if the total electrode length measured at any one point of the internal electrode121is defined as b and the lengths of portions where the electrode is actually formed are defined as e1, e2, e3, and e4, internal electrode connectivity may be expressed as e/b, a value obtained by dividing the sum (e=e1+e2+e3+e4) of the lengths of the portions where the electrode is actually formed by the total electrode length b.

If internal electrode connectivity is less than 85%, it may be difficult to secure sufficient capacitance.

Initial sintering of the internal electrode to which a certain ratio of Tb is added according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure is delayed and thus sintering mismatch between the internal electrode and the dielectric layer may be reduced, so that connectivity of the internal electrodes may be secured to 85% or more.

It is not necessary to specifically limit an upper limit of internal electrode connectivity, but the upper limit may be 97% considering a manufacturing process or the like.

In addition, the internal electrodes121and122may have a thickness deviation of 18% or less.

In the internal electrode to which Tb is added according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, since initial sintering is delayed, sintering mismatch between the internal electrode and the dielectric layer may be reduced, thereby securing a thickness deviation of 18% or less.

Here, the thickness deviation may refer to a CV value of the thickness of the internal electrode. That is, when an average value of the thicknesses of the internal electrodes is x1and a standard deviation of the thicknesses of the internal electrodes is s1, a thickness deviation may be s1/x1*100(%).

In an exemplary embodiment, the dielectric layer111may include Tb. Since Tb of the internal electrodes121and122is squeezed out to the dielectric layer111during firing, the dielectric layer111may include Tb even when a composition for the dielectric layer does not contain Tb.

The internal electrodes121and122may be formed using a conductive paste for internal electrodes containing a Tb oxide and Ni, and a weight ratio of the Tb oxide to Ni may be 1.5 to 10.0 wt %. Accordingly, after the internal electrodes are sintered, the internal electrodes121and122may have a content of Tb of 0.45 to 3.0 wt % relative to the sum of the contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb.

In this case, the Tb oxide may be at least one of Tb4O7and Tb2O3.

However, the Tb oxide may be Tb4O7in order to more effectively improve internal electrode connectivity and reduce the thickness variation of the internal electrode with the same content.

Meanwhile, the thickness te of the internal electrodes121and122may not be particularly limited.

However, in general, if the internal electrodes121and122are formed to be thin to have a thickness less than 0.6 μm, in particular, if the thickness of the internal electrodes121and122is 0.41 μm or less, reliability may be lowered.

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, even when the dielectric layer and the internal electrode are very thin, reliability may be improved by effectively delaying initial sintering, and thus, sufficient reliability may be ensured even when the thickness of the internal electrodes121and122is 0.41 μm or less.

Therefore, when the thickness of the internal electrodes121and122is 0.41 μm or less, the effect of improving reliability according to the present disclosure may be more remarkable and miniaturization and high capacitance of the capacitor component may be more easily achieved.

The thickness te of the internal electrodes121and122may refer to an average thickness of the internal electrodes121and122.

The average thickness of the internal electrodes121and122may be measured by scanning an image of a length and thickness directional (L-T) cross-section of the body110with an SEM.

For example, in an image obtained by scanning a cross-section of the body110in the length and thickness directions (L-T) taken in a central portion of the body110in the width direction (W), certain first and second internal electrodes121and122may be extracted, and thicknesses thereof at 30 points at equal intervals in the length direction may be measured, and an average value of the measured thicknesses may be calculated.

The external electrodes131and132may be disposed on the body110and connected to the internal electrodes121and122.

As shown inFIG.2, the external electrodes131and132may be disposed on the third and fourth surfaces3and4of the body110and connected to the first and second internal electrodes121and122, respectively.

In this exemplary embodiment, a structure in which the multilayer electronic component100has two external electrodes131and132is described, but the number or shape of the external electrodes131and132may be modified according to shapes of the internal electrodes121and122or other purposes.

Meanwhile, the external electrodes131and132may be formed of any material as long as the material has electrical conductivity such as a metal, and a specific material may be determined in consideration of electrical characteristics and structural stability, and further, the external electrodes131and132may have a multilayer structure.

For example, the external electrodes131and132may include electrode layers131aand132adisposed on the body110and plating layers131band132bformed on the electrode layers131aand132a.

For a more specific example of the electrode layers131aand132a, the electrode layers131aand132amay be sintered electrodes including a conductive metal and glass or resin-based electrodes including a conductive metal and a resin.

In addition, the electrode layers131aand132amay have a form in which a firing electrode and a resin-based electrode are sequentially formed on the body. In addition, the electrode layers131aand132amay be formed by transferring a sheet including a conductive metal onto the body or by transferring a sheet including a conductive metal onto the firing electrode.

A material having excellent electrical conductivity may be used as the conductive metal included in the electrode layers131aand132a, and the material is not particularly limited. For example, the conductive metal may be one or more of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and alloys thereof.

The plating layers131band132bserve to improve mounting characteristics. The plating layers131band132bare not limited in type and may be plating layers including at least one of Ni, Sn, Pd, and alloys thereof or may be formed of a plurality of layers.

For a more specific example of the plating layers131band132b, the plating layers131band132bmay include a Ni plating layer or an Sn plating layer, and in this case, the Ni plating layer and the Sn plating layer may be sequentially formed on the electrode layers131aand132aor the Sn plating layer, the Ni plating layer, and the Sn plating layer may be sequentially formed on the electrode layers131aand132a. In addition, the plating layers131band132bmay include a plurality of Ni plating layers and/or a plurality of Sn plating layers.

A size of the multilayer electronic component100may not be particularly limited.

However, in order to achieve both miniaturization and high capacitance, the number of layers needs to be increased by reducing the thickness of the dielectric layer and the internal electrode, and thus, the effect of improving reliability and insulation resistance according to the present exemplary embodiment may be remarkable in a multilayer electronic component having a 0402 size (length×width, 0.4 mm×0.2 mm) or less.

Accordingly, when the length of the multilayer electronic component is 0.44 mm or less and the width thereof is 0.22 mm or less, taking into account a manufacturing error and the size of external electrode, the reliability improvement effect according to the present disclosure may be more remarkable.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a multilayer electronic component100according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure will be described.

First, a plurality of ceramic green sheets are prepared.

The ceramic green sheet is for forming the dielectric layer111of the body110, and a slurry may be prepared by mixing ceramic powder particles, a polymer, and a solvent, and the slurry may be formed in a sheet shape having a predetermined thickness through a method such as a doctor blade method, or the like.

Thereafter, a conductive paste for internal electrodes is printed with a predetermined thickness on at least one surface of each ceramic green sheet to form an internal electrode.

The conductive paste for internal electrodes may include a Tb oxide and Ni, and a weight ratio of the Tb oxide to Ni may be 1.5 to 10.0 wt %. Accordingly, after the internal electrodes are sintered, the internal electrodes121and122may have a content of Tb of 0.45 to 3.0 wt % relative to the sum of the contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb.

In this case, the Tb oxide may be at least one of Tb4O7and Tb2O3.

However, the Tb oxide may be Tb4O7in order to more effectively improve internal electrode connectivity and reduce a thickness variation of the internal electrode with the same content.

As a printing method of the conductive paste for internal electrodes, a screen-printing method or a gravure printing method may be used.

Referring toFIG.4, the ceramic green sheet on which the first internal electrode121is printed and the ceramic green sheet on which the second internal electrode122is printed are alternately stacked and pressed in a stacking direction to compress the plurality of stacked ceramic green sheets and the internal electrodes formed on the ceramic green sheets to form a stack.

In addition, at least one ceramic green sheet may be stacked above and below the stack to form cover portions112and113.

The cover portions112and113may have the same composition as the dielectric layer111located inside the stack and differ from the dielectric layer111in that the cover portions112and113do not include internal electrodes.

Thereafter, each region of the stack corresponding to one capacitor is cut into a chip, and the chip is fired at high temperature to complete the body110.

Thereafter, exposed portions of the first and second internal electrodes exposed to both sides of the body110may be covered to form first and second external electrodes131and132such that the first and second external electrodes131and132are electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes.

At this time, surfaces of the first and second external electrodes131and132may be plated with nickel or tin, if necessary.

EXAMPLE

Sample chips including internal electrodes formed using a conductive paste for internal electrodes in which a certain ratio of a Tb oxide was added to Ni were prepared, and based on Test No. 1 in which Tb was not added, relative values of capacitance and an initial failure were measured and a mean time to failure (MTTF), internal electrode connectivity, thickness deviation, and Tb content of each sample chip were measured and described in Table 1 below.

As for high-temperature load reliability, high-temperature load test was carried out on 400 samples per test No. under the conditions of 125° C. and 8 V, and initial failure and MTTF were measured.

As for the initial failure, the number of samples whose insulation resistance became 10 KΩ or less until initial 12 hours was determined as the initial failure, and a relative value was described based on an initial failure number of Test No. 1 as 1.0.

As for MTTF, a time during which insulation resistance was less than 10 KΩ was determined as the failure time.

As for electrode connectivity, an image of a cross-section in length and thickness directions (L-T cross-section) taken in a central portion of the body in the width direction W was scanned by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and lengths of portions where internal electrodes are formed were measured relative to a total length for all internal electrodes, electrode connectivity of each internal electrode was obtained, and an average value thereof was described.

An electrode thickness deviation was calculated as s1/x1*100(%) in which x1is an average value of the internal electrode thickness and s1is a standard deviation of the internal electrode thickness.

In the case of the Tb content after firing, a flaked sample was prepared using FIB equipment at a point of ½ in the L direction (X direction) of the sintered sample chip. For three internal electrodes in the vicinity of ½ of the manufactured flake sample in the T direction (Z direction), five inner regions 5 nm apart from a dielectric interface in each of the internal electrodes in the T direction (Z direction) were measured. The measurement was performed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) equipment, and the contents of Ni, Ba, Ti, O, and Tb were quantitatively analyzed using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for component analysis.

The wt % of Tb out of the total amount (100 wt %) of the five elements was expressed as the Tb content after firing.

It can be seen that, in the case of Test Nos. 1, 2, 9, and 10 in which the Tb content contained in the internal electrode after firing is less than 0.45 wt % or greater than 3.0 wt %, electrode connectivity is low and the electrode thickness deviation is also large.

Meanwhile, it can be seen that, in the case of Test Nos. 3 to 8 in which the Tb content contained in the internal electrode after firing is 0.45 wt % to 3.0 wt %, electrode connectivity is high and electrode thickness deviation is also small.

In addition, it can be seen that Test Nos. 3 to 8 have better capacitance than Test Nos. 1, 2, 9 and 10, initial failure is also low, and MTTF is also long.

FIG.6is an image of a cross-section captured by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) during sintering of Test No. 1.FIG.7is an image of a cross-section captured by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) during sintering of Test No. 7.

A flake sample was prepared using FIB equipment at a point of ½ of a multilayer electronic component in the L direction (X direction) in a state in which sintering of the internal electrodes was in progress. When a central region in the T direction (Z direction) and W direction (Y direction) is observed with an SEM, comparingFIGS.6and7, in the case of Test No. 7 to which Tb was added, it can be seen that Ni necking is delayed due to less sintering between Ni particles, compared to Test No. 1.

Sample chips including an internal electrode formed using a conductive paste for internal electrodes in which a certain ratio of Tb4O7, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, and Yb2O3powder particles was added to Ni, relative values of capacitance and initial failure were measured based on Test No. 1 of Table 1 in which Tb was not added, and MTTF internal electrode connectivity, a thickness deviation, a Tb content of each sample chip were measured and described in Table 2.

It can be seen that Test Nos. 11 and 12 in which Tb4O7or Tb2O3was added have higher electrode connectivity and smaller electrode thickness deviations than Test Nos. 13 and 14 to which other rare earth elements were added.

In addition, it can be seen that Test Nos. 11 and 12 have better capacitance, lower initial failures, and longer MTTF than Test Nos. 13 and 14.

As set forth above, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, reliability of the multilayer electronic component may be improved.

One of various effects of the present disclosure is that, by adding Tb to the internal electrode, the initial sintering of the internal electrode is delayed, thereby reducing sintering mismatch between the internal electrode and the dielectric layer, improving the connectivity of the internal electrode, and reducing the thickness deviation of the internal electrode.

One of the various effects of the present disclosure is that, during firing, Tb of the internal electrode is squeezed out to the dielectric layer and is selectively substituted to the A-site or B-site of BaTiO3in the dielectric layer to suppress oxygen vacancy.

One of the various effects of the present disclosure is to improve capacitance of the multilayer electronic component.