Patent ID: 7859823

Claim:
A multi-layered ceramic electronic component comprising: a sintered ceramic body including a plurality of stacked ceramic layers, a first side surface and a second side surface opposing each other, and a first end surface and a second end surface opposing each other; a first internal electrode arranged in the sintered ceramic body, the first internal electrode having an end extending to the first end surface and including Ni; a second internal electrode arranged in the sintered ceramic body so as to oppose the first internal electrode with a ceramic layer therebetween, the second internal electrode having an end extending to the second end surface and including Ni; a first external terminal electrode arranged on the first end surface of the sintered ceramic body and electrically connected to the first internal electrode, the first external terminal electrode arranged to be subjected to a first potential; and a second external terminal electrode arranged on the second end surface of the sintered ceramic body and electrically connected to the second internal electrode, the second external terminal electrode being arranged to be subjected to a potential different from the first potential; wherein the sintered ceramic body includes: an effective layer portion of the ceramic layers arranged between the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode, the effective layer portion contributing to generation of capacitance; and side gap portions arranged between sides of the first and second internal electrodes and the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body and between sides of the effective layer portion and the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body; wherein in the side gap portions, regions each located on a level with each of the first and second internal electrodes and extending to the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body are Mg-rich regions each having a Mg concentration greater than that of the effective layer portion.