Abstract
The microstructure and electrical properties of Pr$_{6}$/O sub 11/-Based ZnO varistors with Nd$_2$O$_3$ was doped in the range of 0.0 to 2.0 mol% were investigated. Most of the added Nd$_2$O$_3$were segregated at the nodal points and grain boundaries and were found to form the Nd-rich phase. In addition the bulk intergranular layer at the grain boundaries and nodal points was consisted of Nd-rich phase and Pr-rich phase. the average grain size was decreased in the range of 7.8 to 5.6${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ with increasing Nd$_{2}$/O sub 3/ additive content. The nonlinearity of ZnO varistors sintered at 130$0^{\circ}C$ was much more excellent than that at 135$0^{\circ}C$ ZnO varistors doped with 1.0mol% Nd$_{2}$/O sub 3/ exhibited the best nonlinearity. which is 65.2 in the nonlinear exponent and 4.5$\mu$A in the leakage current. Consequently. it is estimated that Pr$_{6}$/O sub 11/ -based ZnO varistors doped with 1.0 mol% Nd$_{2}$/O sub 3/ are to be sufficiently used as basic composition to fabricate good varistors in the future.ure.