New simultaneously doped pyrochlore compounds (Ca 1−x Ce x ) 2 (Zr x Nb 1−x ) 2 O 7 negative temperature coefficient ceramics

New simultaneously doped pyrochlore compounds (Ca1−xCex)2(ZrxNb1−x)2O7 (x = 0.05, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) are prepared by solid state method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that CaCeZrNbO7 phase increase and Ca2Nb2O7 phase decrease with the increase of x. The electrical parameters of (Ca1−xCex)2(ZrxNb1−x)2O7 ceramics are as follows: the resistivities ρ700, B500/700, α500, α700 and Ea500/700 are 1.12 × 103 to 1.24 × 106 Ω cm, 10,646 to 17,148 K, − 0.0287 to − 0.0178 K−1, − 0.0189 to − 0.0112 K−1 and 0.92 to 1.48 eV, respectively. In addition, the resistivity drift reduces as the Ce and Zr ions doping content increases. Simultaneously doped pyrochlore compounds (Ca1−xCex)2(ZrxNb1−x)2O7 ceramic with wide operating temperature (300–1100 °C) and high temperature stability. After pre-aging at 700 °C for 200 h, the resistance drift rate of all samples within 300 h is less than 1%, and can be used as potential candidates for high temperatures thermistor.