Varistors based on polycrystalline ZnO:Cu

Sintered, polycrystalline ZnO ceramics with copper as the only additive exhibit highly nonlinear current‐voltage characteristics. Increasing nonlinearity index (α=4–45) with Cu concentration of 0.01–1 mol % is also variable with respect to ceramic processing methods. Incorporation of Cu in the ZnO lattice is indicated from the electron probe microanalysis and the photoluminescence spectra. Cu acceptors are compensated by holes in the grain boundary layers, whereas the concentration of intrinsic donors is higher in the grain interior. The presence of positive charges leads to thinning of the depletion region, resulting in nonlinear characteristics.