Effect of temperature on the electrophysical properties of Si–polymer composite varistors

Abstract A low voltage Si–polymer composite varistor was prepared at a temperature of 130 °C and a pressure of 60 MPa and its current–voltage characteristic was studied. Also, temperature dependence of current–voltage characteristic was investigated in the temperature range of 25–100 °C. It was found that any increase in ambient temperature lowers breakdown voltage as well as nonlinearity coefficient. Each sample has hysteresis which decreases through increase in temperature. Annealing effect on leakage current, breakdown voltage and nonlinear coefficient was both investigated and analyzed using SEM micrographs and XRD patterns.