Interaction of BiNbO 4 ‐Based Low‐Firing Ceramics with Silver Electrodes

Several commercial silver electrode pastes have been evaluated for use with BiNbO 4 ‐based low‐firing ceramics. After electrode application and subsequent cofiring, the electrode pattern on the ceramic was no longer visible. A bismuth‐rich second phase was present at the electrode/BiNbO 4 interface, and silver was detected in the second phase. Systematic X‐ray diffractometry analysis of the mixtures between different silver pastes and doped/undoped BiNbO 4 revealed an interaction between the silver and the BiNbO 4 . This reaction was responsible for the disappearance of the silver electrode patterns.