Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a multilayer electronic component.

A multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC), a multilayer electronic component, is a chip-type condenser that is mounted on the printed circuit boards of various electronic products such as imaging devices including a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a plasma display panel (PDP), computers, smartphones, and mobile phones, and serves to charge or discharge electricity therein or therefrom. Prior art is disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Since the multilayer ceramic capacitor has the advantages of being compact, having high capacity and being easy to install, it may be used as a component of various electronic devices. As various electronic devices such as computers and mobile devices have been miniaturized and have become high-powered, there is an increasing demand for miniaturization and high capacitance for multilayer ceramic capacitors.

In general, Ni of an internal electrode and Cu of an external electrode may be mutually diffused during a sintering process to form a Ni-Cu alloy layer. As the Ni-Cu alloy layer may improve a connection between the internal electrode and the external electrode, it may serve to improve electrical properties, such as improvements in the capacitance of the multilayer ceramic capacitor.

However, in the process of forming the Ni-Cu alloy layer, since a rate at which Cu diffuses into Ni is even faster than a rate at which Ni diffuses into Cu, a large amount of Cu may diffuse toward the internal electrode to lead to an expansion of the volume of the internal electrode, so that there may be a risk of radiating cracks.

Specifically, when the number of stacks is increased by thinning a dielectric layer and the internal electrode in order to achieve miniaturization and high capacitance of the multilayer ceramic capacitor, high stress may be applied to the thin dielectric layer and the thin internal electrode, which may be more vulnerable to the radiating cracks.

Accordingly, there is a need to develop a multilayer ceramic capacitor configured to suppress the radiating cracks while improving the connection between the internal electrode and the external electrode.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to improve a connection between an internal electrode and an external electrode.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to suppress radiating cracks generated in a body of a multilayer electronic component.

However, the aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described contents, and may be more easily understood in the process of describing specific embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, a multilayer electronic component as defined in claim <NUM> includes: a body including a dielectric layer and first and second internal electrodes alternately disposed in a first direction with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and including a first surface and a second surface opposing each other in the first direction, a third surface and a fourth surface connected to the first surface and the second surface and opposing each other in a second direction, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface connected to the first surface to the fourth surface and opposing each other in a third direction; and a first external electrode disposed on the third surface and including a first alloy layer connected to the first internal electrode; and a second external electrode disposed on the fourth surface and including a second alloy layer connected to the second internal electrode, wherein the first and second alloy layers include alloys including Cu, Ni, and Al, and a molar content of Ni included in the first alloy layer is greater than a molar content of Al included in the first alloy layer, and a molar content of Cu included in the first alloy layer is greater than the molar content of Ni included in the first alloy layer.

According to another aspects of the present invention, a multilayer electronic component according to claim <NUM> includes: a body including a dielectric layer and first and second internal electrodes alternately disposed in a first direction with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and including a first surface and a second surface opposing each other in the first direction, a third surface and a fourth surface connected to the first surface and the second surface and opposing each other in a second direction, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface connected to the first surface to the fourth surface and opposing each other in a third direction; a first external electrode disposed on the third surface and including a first alloy layer in contact with the first internal electrode inside the body; and a second external electrode disposed on the fourth surface and including a second alloy layer in contact with the second internal electrode inside the body, wherein the first and second alloy layers include alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, and a region in which the first internal electrode and the first alloy layer are in contact with each other is within <NUM> in the second direction from the third surface.

As one of various effects of the present disclosure, a connection between an internal electrode and an external electrode may be improved.

As one of various effects of the present disclosure, radiating cracks generated in a body of a multilayer electronic component may be suppressed.

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to specific example embodiments and the attached drawings. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may, however, be exemplified in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein. Furthermore, the example embodiments disclosed herein are provided for those skilled in the art to better explain the present disclosure. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions of elements may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like elements.

Furthermore, in order to clearly describe the present disclosure in the drawings, the contents unrelated to the description are omitted, and since sizes and thicknesses of each component illustrated in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of description, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, components with the same function within the same range of ideas are described using the same reference numerals. Throughout the specification, when a certain portion "includes" or "comprises" a certain component, this indicates that other components are not excluded and may be further included unless otherwise noted.

In the drawings, a first direction may be defined as a thickness T direction, a second direction may be defined as a length L direction, and a third direction may be defined as a width W direction.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a multilayer electronic component according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line I-I' of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' of <FIG>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a body of <FIG>.

<FIG> is an enlarged view of region K1 of <FIG>.

Hereinafter, a multilayer electronic component <NUM> according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Furthermore, a multilayer ceramic capacitor (hereinafter referred to as 'MLCC') is described as an example of a multilayer electronic component, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may be applied to various multilayer electronic components, such as inductors, piezoelectric devices, varistors, or thermistors.

The multilayer electronic component <NUM> according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure may include a dielectric layer <NUM> and first and second internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> alternately disposed in the first direction with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and may include a body <NUM> including a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> opposing each other in the first direction, a third surface <NUM> and a fourth surface <NUM> connected to the first surface and the second surface and opposing each other in the second direction, and a fifth surface <NUM> and a sixth surface <NUM> connected to the first to fourth surfaces and opposing each other in the third direction, a first external electrode <NUM> including a first alloy layer 131a disposed on the third surface and connected to the first internal electrode, and a second external electrode <NUM> disposed on the fourth surface and including a second alloy layer 132a connected to the second internal electrode, and the first and second alloy layers include alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, a molar content of Ni included in the first alloy layer may be greater than a molar content of Al in the first alloy layer, and a molar content of Cu in the first alloy layer may be greater than the molar content of Ni in the first alloy layer.

As described above, in the case of conventional general multilayer ceramic capacitors, Ni of an internal electrode and Cu of an external electrode may mutually diffuse during a sintering process. However, since a rate at which Cu diffuses into Ni is even faster than a rate at which Ni diffuses into Cu, a large amount of Cu may diffuse toward the internal electrode which may lead to an expansion of the volume of the internal electrode, so that there may be a risk of radiating cracks occurring in the body.

On the other hand, according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be connected to the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The connection between the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, may be secured by including the alloy layers 131a and 132a including alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, and simultaneously, it is possible to suppress an occurrence of radiating cracks in the body <NUM> by allowing Al to reduce a difference in diffusion rates between Cu and Ni. Furthermore, since Al included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a has the properties of absorbing water vapor, it may be possible to improve moisture resistance reliability of the multilayer electronic component <NUM> by suppressing external moisture from penetrating into the body <NUM>.

Specifically, in the case of the multilayer electronic component <NUM> according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, as the molar content of Ni included in the alloy layers 131a or 132a is greater than that of Al in the alloy layers 131a or 132a, and the molar content of Cu in the alloy layers 131a or 132a is greater than that of Ni in the alloy layers 131a or 132a, a connection between the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be improved, and a suppression effect of the radiating cracks may be more remarkably improved.

Hereinafter, each component included in the multilayer electronic component <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

There is no particular limitation on a specific shape of the body <NUM>, but as illustrated, the body <NUM> may have a hexahedral shape or a shape similar thereto. Due to the shrinkage of ceramic powder particles included in the body <NUM> during a sintering process or the polishing of corners, the body <NUM> is not a hexahedral shape with a complete straight line, but may have a substantially hexahedral shape.

The body <NUM> may have the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> opposing each other in the first direction, the third surface <NUM> and the fourth surface <NUM> connected to the first surface <NUM> and the second surfaced <NUM> and opposing each other in the second direction, and the fifth surface <NUM> and the sixth surface <NUM> connected to the first to fourth surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and opposing each other in the third direction.

In the body <NUM>, the dielectric layer <NUM> and the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be alternately stacked. Since a plurality of dielectric layers <NUM> forming the body <NUM> are in a sintered state, a boundary between adjacent dielectric layers <NUM> may be integrated to the extent that the boundary may be difficult to identify without using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

The dielectric layer <NUM> may be formed by manufacturing a ceramic slurry including ceramic powder particles, an organic solvent, and a binder, preparing a ceramic green sheet by applying and drying the slurry on a carrier film, and then sintering the ceramic green sheet. The ceramic powder particles are not particularly limited as long as they can obtain sufficient capacitance, but for example, barium titanate-based materials, lead composite perovskite-based materials, or strontium titanate-based materials can be used for the ceramic powder particles, and examples of the ceramic powder particles may include BaTiO<NUM>, (Ba<NUM>-xCax)TiO<NUM> (<NUM><x<<NUM>), Ba(Ti<NUM>-yCay)O<NUM> (<NUM><y<<NUM>), (Ba<NUM>-xCax)(Ti<NUM>-yZry)O<NUM> (<NUM><x<<NUM>, <NUM><y<<NUM>) which is formed by partially employing calcium (Ca) and zirconium (Zr) in BaTiO<NUM>, or Ba(Ti<NUM>-yZry)O<NUM> (<NUM><y<<NUM>).

An average thickness td of the dielectric layer <NUM> is not particularly limited. However, when the dielectric layer <NUM> is formed to be thin to achieve miniaturization and high capacitance of the multilayer electronic component <NUM>, the dielectric layer <NUM> may be vulnerable to stress generated when a voltage is applied, which may easily generate radiating cracks in the body <NUM>. On the other hand, in the case of the multilayer electronic component according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the alloy layers 131a and 132a may include alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, the molar content of Ni including in the alloy layers 131a or 132a may be greater than that of Al in the alloy layers 131a or 132a, and the molar content of Cu in the alloy layers 131a or 132a is greater than that of Ni in the alloy layers 131a or 132a. Accordingly, even when the average thickness td of the dielectric layer <NUM> is <NUM> or less, reliability of the multilayer electronic component may be secured.

Here, the average thickness td of the dielectric layer <NUM> refers to a size in the first direction of the dielectric layer <NUM> disposed between the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>. The average thickness of the dielectric layer <NUM> may be measured by scanning an image of the first and second directional cross-sections of the body <NUM> with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) of <NUM>,000X magnification. More specifically, an average value may be measured by measuring the thickness at a plurality of points of one dielectric layer <NUM>, for example, <NUM> points which are spaced apart from each other at equal intervals in the second direction. The <NUM> points spaced apart from each other at equal intervals may be designated in a capacitance formation portion Ac to be described below. In addition, when the average value is measured by extending an average value measurement up to <NUM> dielectric layers <NUM>, the average thickness of the dielectric layer <NUM> may be further generalized.

The internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be alternately disposed with the dielectric layer <NUM>, and for example, a pair of electrodes with different polarities, i.e., the first internal electrode <NUM> and the second internal electrode <NUM>, may be alternately disposed with the dielectric layer <NUM> interposed therebetween. The first internal electrode <NUM> and the second internal electrode <NUM> may be electrically separated from each other by the dielectric layer <NUM> disposed therebetween. The first internal electrode <NUM> may be connected to the first external electrode <NUM> at the third surface <NUM>, and the second internal electrode <NUM> may be connected to the second external electrode <NUM> at the fourth surface <NUM>.

The internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may include at least one conduct metal selected from the group consisting of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), tin (Sn), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), and alloys thereof, and more preferably, may include Ni.

The internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed by applying a conductive paste for internal electrodes including a conductive metal by a predetermined thickness on a ceramic green sheet and sintering the conductive paste. A printing method for the conductive paste for internal electrodes may be a screen-printing method or a gravure printing method, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

An average thickness te of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> is not particularly limited. Meanwhile, as described above, in the case of the multilayer electronic component according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the alloy layers 131a and 132a may include Cu, Ni and Al, the molar content of Ni included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be greater than that of Al included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a, and the molar content of Cu included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a is greater than that of Ni included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a. Accordingly, even when the average thickness te of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> is <NUM> or less, reliability of the multilayer electronic component may be secured.

The average thickness te of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> denotes a size of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> in the first direction. Here, the average thickness of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be measured by scanning an image of the first and second directional cross sections of the body <NUM> with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at <NUM>,000X magnification. More specifically, the average value may be measured by measuring the thickness at a plurality of points of one internal electrode <NUM> or <NUM>, for example, <NUM> points which are spaced apart from each other at equal intervals in the second direction. The <NUM> points spaced apart from each other at equal intervals may be designated in a capacitance formation portion Ac to be described below. In addition, when the average value is measured by extending an average value measurement up to <NUM> internal electrodes <NUM> or <NUM>, the average thickness of the internal electrodes <NUM> or <NUM> may be further generalized.

The body <NUM> may include a capacitance formation portion Ac disposed inside the body <NUM> and having capacitance formed by including first and second internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> alternately disposed with the dielectric layer <NUM> interposed therebetween, and a first cover portion <NUM> and a second cover portion <NUM> respectively disposed on both cross-sections of the capacitance formation portion Ac opposing each other in the first direction. The cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> may basically serve to prevent damage to the internal electrodes due to physical or chemical stress. The cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> may have the same configuration as the dielectric layer <NUM> except that they do not include the internal electrodes.

A thickness tc of the cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> need not be particularly limited. However, the average thickness tc of the cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be <NUM> or less for achieve miniaturization and high capacitance of the multilayer electronic component. Even when the average thickness tc of the cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> is <NUM> or less, the alloy layers 131a and 132a may include alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, the molar content of Ni included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be greater than that of Al included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a, and the molar content of Cu included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be greater than that of Ni included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a, thereby securing the reliability of the multilayer electronic component. Here, the average thickness of the cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> denotes an average thickness of each of the first cover portion <NUM> and the second cover portion <NUM>.

The average thickness of the cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> may mean an average size of the cover portions <NUM> and <NUM> in the first direction, and may be a value obtained by averaging sizes in the first direction measured at five points spaced apart from each other at equal intervals in the cross-section of the body <NUM> in the first direction and the second direction.

The body <NUM> may include a first margin portion <NUM> and a second margin portion <NUM> respectively disposed on both cross-sections facing the capacitance formation portion Ac in the third direction. That is, the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> may refer to regions between both ends of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and boundary surfaces of the body <NUM> in cross-sections in which the body <NUM> is cut in the first direction and the third direction.

The margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> may include the same material as the dielectric layer <NUM> except that they do not include the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>. The margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> may basically serve to prevent damage to the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> due to physical or chemical stress.

The margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed by applying and firing a conductive paste for an internal electrode except for a position in which the margin portions will be formed on the ceramic green sheet. Alternatively, in order to suppress a step portion caused by the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>, the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be stacked and then cut to be connected to the fifth surface <NUM> and the sixth surface <NUM> of the body, and then, the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed by stacking a single dielectric layer or two or more dielectric layers on both cross-sections of the capacitance formation portion Ac opposing each other in the third direction.

An average thickness of the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> need not be particularly limited. However, for achieving miniaturization and high capacitance of the multilayer electronic component, the average thickness of the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be <NUM> or less. As described above, even when the average thickness of the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> is <NUM> or less, the alloy layers 131a and 132a include alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, the molar content of Ni included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be greater than that of Al included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a, and the molar content of Cu included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be greater than that of Ni included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a, thereby ensuring reliability of the multilayer electronic component. Here, the average thickness of the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> denote an average thickness of each of the first machining portion <NUM> and the second machining portion <NUM>.

The average thickness of the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> may denote an average size of the margin portions <NUM> and <NUM> in the third direction, and may be a value obtained by averaging sizes in the third direction measured at five points spaced apart from each other at equal intervals in the cross-sections of the body <NUM> in first direction and the third direction.

The external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed on the third surface <NUM> and the fourth surface and <NUM> of the body <NUM>, and may extend over a portion of the first surface, the second surface, the fifth surface, and the sixth surface. Furthermore, the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first external electrode <NUM> connected to the first internal electrode <NUM> and a second external electrode <NUM> connected to the second internal electrode <NUM>.

The external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may respectively include alloy layers 131a and 132a connected to the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>, and electrode layers 131b and 132b respectively disposed on the alloy layers 131a and 132a. That is, the first external electrode <NUM> may include a first alloy layer 131a disposed on the third surface <NUM> and connected to the first internal electrode <NUM>, and a first electrode layer 131b disposed on the first alloy layer, and the second external electrode <NUM> may include a second alloy layer 132a disposed on the fourth surface <NUM> and connected to the second internal electrode <NUM> and a second electrode layer 132b disposed on the second alloy layer. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first alloy layer 131a may be in contact with the first internal electrode <NUM> in the body <NUM>, and the second alloy layer 132a may be in contact with the second internal electrode <NUM> in the body <NUM>.

Furthermore, the first external electrode <NUM> may include a first plating layer 131c disposed on the first electrode layer, and the second external electrode <NUM> may include a second plating layer 132c disposed on the second electrode layer.

Although a structure of the multilayer electronic component <NUM> having two external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> is described in the drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the number or shape of the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be changed according to the shape or other purpose of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>.

The first and second electrode layers 131b and 132b may extend from the first and second alloy layers 131a and 132a onto at least a portion of the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>. Furthermore, the first and second electrode layers 131b and 132b may extend from the first and second alloy layers 131a and 132a to at least a portion of the fifth surface <NUM> and the sixth surface <NUM>.

The first and second electrode layers 131b and 132b may include metal and glass. For example, referring to <FIG>, a metal M included in the first electrode layer 131b may serve to ensure an electrical connection with the first alloy layer 131a, and a glass G included in the first electrode layer 131b may serve to secure bonding force between the body <NUM> and the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>.

The metal M included in the first and second electrode layers 131b and 132b may be selected from the group consisting of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), gold (Au), silver (Ag), lead (Pb), and alloys thereof, and more preferably, may include Cu.

Each of the alloy layers 131a and 132a may include alloys including Cu, Ni and Al. Cu included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be derived from the electrode layers 131b and 132b, and Ni included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be derived from the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>. That is, the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be formed by mutually diffusing Cu included in the electrode layers 131b and 132b and Ni included in the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> during a sintering process of the electrode layers 131b and 132b. The alloy layers 131a and 132a may basically serve to improve the connection between the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby improving electrical characteristics of the multilayer electronic component.

On the other hand, due to a difference in diffusion rates between Cu and Ni, the volume of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be expanded to cause the radiating cracks to occur in the body <NUM>, but in the case of a multilayer electronic component according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, alloys included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a may include Al to reduce the difference in diffusion rates between Cu and Ni, thus suppressing the occurrence of the radiating cracks in the body <NUM>. Furthermore, since Al included in the alloy layers 131a and 132a has the property of absorbing water vapor, the penetration of external moisture into the body <NUM> may be suppressed, thereby improving the moisture resistance reliability of the multilayer electronic component <NUM>.

A method of forming the alloy layers 131a and 132a and the electrode layers 131b and 132b need not be particularly limited. For example, the electrode layers 131b and 132b may be formed by dipping the third surface <NUM> and the fourth surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> into a conductive paste containing Cu particles and glass and then sintering the conductive paste. Meanwhile, when Cu particles coated with Al<NUM>O<NUM> are used as Cu particles included in the conductive paste, Cu included in the electrode layers 131b and 132b and Ni included in the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> may be mutually diffused during the sintering process, but Al coated on Cu may reduce a diffusion rate of Cu to reduce a difference in a mutual diffusion rate between Cu and Ni, thereby suppressing the occurrence of the radiating cracks in the body <NUM>.

Furthermore, when the electrode layers 131b and 132b are sintered, in the process of forming the alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, the alloy layers 131a and 132a may be formed by pushing glass included in the electrode layers 131b and 132b. Accordingly, in an example embodiment, the first and second alloy layers 131a and 132a may not include glass. Since the alloy layers 131a and 132a do not include glass, the glass may be prevented from interfering with a contact between the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and the alloy layers 131a and 132a, thereby more effectively improving the connection between the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>.

In some example embodiments, the first and second alloy layers 131a and 132a may be disposed between an extension line E1 of the first surface and an extension line E2 of the second surface. Here, the extension line of each surface may denote a line extending from a flat portion of each surface. Since the alloy layers 131a and 132a are formed by mutually diffusing Cu and Al of the electrode layers 131b and 132b and Ni of the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> during the sintering process, the first and second alloy layers 131a and 132a may be disposed between the extension line E1 of the first surface and the extension line E2 of the second surface, and may not extend onto the first surface <NUM> and/or the second surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the first alloy layer 131a will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>. Meanwhile, the first alloy layer 131a merely differs from the second alloy layer 132a in that the first alloy layer 131a is connected to the first internal electrode <NUM>, and the second alloy layer 132a is connected to the second internal electrode, and the first alloy layer 131a and the second alloy layer 132a have similar configurations, and accordingly, the description of the first alloy layer 131a below may be considered to include the description of the second alloy layer 132a.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, since a rate at which Cu diffuses into Ni is even faster than a rate at which Ni diffuses into Cu, a molar content of Cu included in the first alloy layer 131a may be greater than a molar content of Ni. On the other hand, since Ni has a property that oxidizes more easily than Cu, when the molar content of Ni included in the first alloy layer 131a is greater than the molar content of Cu, the connection between the first internal electrode <NUM> and the first external electrode <NUM> may be reduced due to the formation of a Ni oxide, which may increase equivalent series resistance (ESR).

Furthermore, the molar content of Ni included in the first alloy layer 131a may be greater than the molar content of Al. When the molar content of Al included in the first alloy layer 131a is greater than that of Ni, the diffusion of Cu and the formation of alloys therethrough may be excessively suppressed, and accordingly, the effect of improving the connection between the internal electrodes and the external electrodes of the present disclosure may be insignificant. That is, in the case of the disclosure, because the first alloy layer 131a satisfies the molar content of Cu > the molar content of Ni > the molar content of Al, the effect of improving the connection between the internal electrodes and the external electrodes and suppressing the radiating cracks may be more remarkably enhanced.

In some example embodiments, a molar ratio of an Al content to a total content of Cu, Ni and Al included in the first alloy layer 131a may be <NUM> to <NUM>. When the molar ratio of the Al content to the total content of Cu, Ni and Al is less than <NUM>, the effect of preventing the radiating cracks in the present disclosure may be insignificant. Furthermore, when the molar ratio of the Al content to the total content of Cu, Ni and Al exceeds <NUM>, the effect of improving the connection between the internal electrodes and the external electrodes of the present disclosure may be insignificant.

A molar ratio of a Cu content to the total content of Cu, Ni and Al included in the first alloy layer 131a is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. Furthermore, a molar ratio of a Ni content to the total content of Cu, Ni and Al contained in the first alloy layer 131a does not need to be particularly limited, but may be, for example, <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less.

The molar content of each of Cu, Ni and Al included in the first alloy layer 131a may be measured, for example, by obtaining images captured with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the first and second directional cross sections of the multilayer electron component <NUM> cut in the center of the body the third direction, and then analyzing the components through the image using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).

In some example embodiments, the first alloy layer 131a may include a first external alloy layer 131a1 continuously disposed on the third surface <NUM> to form one layer, and a plurality of first internal alloy layers 131a2 extending from the first external alloy layer into the body <NUM> and coming into contact with the first internal electrode <NUM>. The first external alloy layer 131a1 may be formed by diffusing Ni of the first internal electrode <NUM> toward the first electrode layer 131b, and the first internal alloy layer 131a2 may be formed by diffusing Cu and Al of the first electrode layer 131b toward the first internal electrode <NUM>.

Specifically, Al included in the first alloy layer 131a may reduce a diffusion rate of Cu to easily diffuse Ni included in the first internal electrode <NUM> toward the first electrode layer 131b, so that the first external alloy layer 131a1 may form one layer on the third surface <NUM>.

In an example embodiment, a size of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 in the second direction may be <NUM> or less. When the thickness of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 in the second direction is <NUM> or less, it may be possible to more effectively prevent the radiating cracks from occurring in the body <NUM> by causing Cu of the first electrode layer 131b to penetrate excessively into the first internal electrode <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the thickness of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 in the second direction may denote a distance in the second direction by one end of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 coming into contact with the first internal electrode <NUM> from the third surface <NUM>. When a Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) analysis is performed on first directional central regions of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 and the first internal electrode <NUM>, one end of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 in contact with the first internal electrode <NUM> may be specified as a boundary between a region that satisfies the molar content of Cu > the molar content of Ni > the molar content of Al and a region that does not satisfy the molar content of Cu > the molar content of Ni > the molar content of Al. The SEM-EDS may be performed on first and second directional cross-sections cut in a center of the multilayer electronic component in the third direction, and the cross-sections of the multilayer electronic component may be observed by molding the multilayer electronic component with epoxy and then flattening a surface thereof by ion milling. When the third surface <NUM> is not flat, a thickness of one first internal alloy layer 131a2 in the second direction may be measured as follow. First, a virtual line connecting the first directional center points of each one end in contact with the first external electrode <NUM> of two dielectric layers <NUM>, with one first internal alloy layer 131a2 interposed therebetween, can be drawn. Next, A straight line in parallel with the second direction from a first directional center point of one end of the first internal allow layer 131a2 in contact with the first internal electrode <NUM> toward the virtual line can be drawn. The thickness of one first internal alloy layer 131a2 in the second direction may be defined as a distance between a point in which the virtual line and the straight line meet and the first directional center point of one end of the first internal alloy layer 131a2.

In some example embodiments, a region P1 of the first external alloy layer 131a1 adjacent to the first internal alloy layer may have a molar content of Ni greater than that of a region P2 of the first external alloy layer 131a1 adjacent to an external side of the first external alloy layer. This is because Ni included in the first external alloy layer 131a1 is diffused from the first internal electrode <NUM>.

Furthermore, in some example embodiments, a region P3 of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 adjacent to the first external alloy layer 131a1 may have a molar content of Cu greater than a region P4 of the first internal alloy layer 131a2 adjacent to the first internal electrode <NUM>. This is because Cu included in the first internal alloy layer 131a2 is diffused from the first electrode layer 131b.

The type of the plating layers 131c and 132c is not particularly limited, and may include at least one selected from the group consisting of nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), palladium (Pd), and alloys thereof, or may include a plurality of layers. The plating layers 131c and 132c may include, for example, a nickel (Ni) plating layer or a tin (Sn) plating layer, and may include the nickel (Ni) plating layer and the tin (Sn) plating layer sequentially formed. Furthermore, the plating layers 131c and 132c may include a plurality of nickel (Ni) plating layers and/or a plurality of tin (Sn) plating layers.

Hereinafter, a multilayer electronic component according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, since the same drawings as the example embodiment of the present invention may be applied thereto and the same reference numeral may be applied thereto, the multilayer electronic component according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>. Furthermore, in order to avoid overlapping explanations, descriptions overlapping the multilayer electronic component according to the example embodiment of the present disclosure will be omitted.

A multilayer electronic component <NUM> according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure may include a dielectric layer <NUM> and first and second internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> alternately disposed in the first direction with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and may include a body including a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> opposing each other in the first direction, a third surface <NUM> and a fourth surface <NUM> connected to the first surface and the second surface and opposing each other in the second direction, and a fifth surface <NUM> and a sixth surface <NUM> connected to the first surface to the fourth surface and opposing each other in the third direction, a first external electrode <NUM> disposed on the third surface and including a first alloy layer 131a in contact with the first internal electrode in the body, and a second external electrode <NUM> disposed on the fourth surface and including a second alloy layer 132a in contact with the second internal electrode in the body, and the first and second alloy layers 131a and 132a may include alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, and a thickness of the first alloy layer 131a in a region in which the first internal electrode <NUM> and the first alloy layer 131a are in contact with each other from the third surface in the second direction may be within <NUM>.

As described above, the first and second alloy layers 131a and 132a may include Cu, Ni and Al and may basically serve to improve a connection between the internal electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> and the external electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>, thus improving the electrical characteristics of multilayer electronic components, and the alloys may include Al to reduce a difference in a diffusion rate between Cu and Ni, thus suppressing an occurrence of radiating cracks in the body <NUM>.

Specifically, as an area in which the first internal electrode <NUM> and the first alloy layer 131a are in contact with each other is within <NUM> from the third surface in the second direction, it may be possible to more effectively prevent the radiating cracks from occurring in the body <NUM> by causing Cu of the first electrode layer 131b to penetrating excessively into the first internal electrode <NUM>.

Meanwhile, when an SEM-EDS analysis is performed on first directional center regions of the first alloy layer 131a and the first internal electrode <NUM> disposed inside the body <NUM>, a region in which the first internal electrode <NUM> and the first alloy layer 131a are in contact with each other may be specified as a boundary between a region that satisfies the molar content of Cu > the molar content of Ni > the molar content of Al and a region that does not satisfy the molar content of Cu > the molar content of Ni > the molar content of Al. The SEM-EDS may be performed on first and second directional cross-sections cut in a center of the multilayer electronic component in the third direction, and the cross-sections of the multilayer electronic component may be observed by molding the multilayer electronic component with epoxy and then flattening a surface thereof by ion milling. Furthermore, when the third surface <NUM> is not flat, a contact region between the first internal electrode <NUM> and the first alloy layer 131a within <NUM> from the third surface in the second direction may denote as a distance between a point in which a virtual line and a straight line in parallel with the second direction meet and the first directional center point of a region in which the first internal electrode <NUM> and the first alloy layer 131a are in contact with each other may be <NUM> or less when drawing the virtual line for connecting the first directional center points of each end in contact with the first external electrodes <NUM> of two dielectric layers <NUM> with one first alloy layer 131a disposed in the body <NUM> interposed therebetween, and drawing a straight line in parallel with the second direction toward the virtual line from the first directional center point of a region in which the first internal electrode <NUM> and the first alloy layer 131a are in contact with each other.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings but is defined by the appended claims. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art may make various replacements, modifications, or changes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.

In addition, the expression 'an example embodiment' used in the present disclosure does not denote the same example embodiment, and is provided to emphasize and explain different unique characteristics. However, the example embodiments presented above do not preclude being implemented in combination with the features of another embodiment. For example, although items described in a specific embodiment are not described in another embodiment, the items may be understood as a description related to another embodiment unless a description opposite or contradictory to the items is in another embodiment.

Claim 1:
A multilayer electronic component (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>) including: a dielectric layer (<NUM>) and first and second internal electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>) alternately disposed in a first direction (T) with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween; a first surface (<NUM>) and a second surface (<NUM>) opposing each other in the first direction; a third surface (<NUM>) and a fourth surface (<NUM>) connected to the first surface and the second surface and opposing each other in a second direction (L), and a fifth surface (<NUM>) and a sixth surface (<NUM>) connected to the first surface to the fourth surface and opposing each other in a third direction (W),
a first external electrode (<NUM>) disposed on the third surface and including a first alloy layer (131a) connected to the first internal electrode (<NUM>),
a second external electrode (<NUM>) disposed on the fourth surface and including a second alloy layer (132a) connected to the second internal electrode (<NUM>),
wherein each of the first and second alloy layers (131a, 132a) includes alloys including Cu, Ni and Al, and
in each of the first and second alloy layers, a molar content of Ni included is greater than a molar content of Al, and a molar content of Cu is greater than the molar content of Ni.