Development of electroceramics for next generation high capacitance Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitors

An exciting opportunity for an EPSRC-iCASE funded PhD studentship to work with the Functional Materials and Devices group at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with AVX Ltd to develop new and/or modified electroceramics for applications in Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs). BaTiO3-based ceramics are the current high permittivity dielectric materials of choice for MLCCs that are ubiquitous in our everyday lives. The Global MLCC market, valued at $9.05 B in 2018, generates ~3.6 trillion units/year. Growth in automotive, aeronautical and space industries, in addition to portable electronic devices (mobile phones, laptops) raise the demand to over ~ 4.7 trillion units by 2024.

To meet this demand, new and/or improved dielectrics based on BaTiO3 or related materials are required to operate at higher Capacitance (> 10 microF), Temperatures (> 150 C) and/or Voltages (> 100 V). In this project we will use our knowledge of the defect chemistry of electroceramics to design new/modified BaTiO3-based formulations and process thick film dielectrics of these materials using our new slot-die facilities (Henry Royce Institute, HRI at the University of Sheffield) to create proto-type devices based on existing architectures (single layers based on core-shell microstructures) and/or novel architectures (eg, bilayers of dielectrics). The materials and proto-types will be characterised both in Sheffield and AVX with promising materials/architectures being built through production facilities at AVX.

Applicants should have a background in Physical Sciences or Materials/Ceramic Engineering with a strong interest in materials processing and establishing composition-microstructure-property relationships in functional oxides.