# US 2025/0157738 A1 · Multilayer electronic component

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- Number: US 2025/0157738 A1
- Document ID: US20250157738A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/822,951
- Filed: 2024-09-03
- Published: 2025-05-15
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-10
- Assignees: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hyun Tak KIM; Hyung Jong CHOI; Young Bin JEONG; Chung Eun LEE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250157738A1

## CPC

- H01G 4/2325: {characterised by the material of the terminals}
- H01G 4/30: Stacked capacitors (H01G4/33 takes precedence)
- H01G 4/012: Form of non-self-supporting electrodes
- H01G 4/12: Ceramic dielectrics {(H01G4/085 takes precedence)}
- H01G 4/232: electrically connecting two or more layers of a stacked or rolled capacitor
- H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10)

## Abstract

A multilayer electronic component includes: a body including a dielectric layer and internal electrodes alternately disposed while having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween; and external electrodes disposed on the body, wherein the external electrodes include a lower electrode layer including copper (Cu) and glass, an intermediate electrode layer including copper (Cu) and disposed on the lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer including silver (Ag) and glass and disposed on the intermediate electrode layer, and an area fraction occupied by a pore in the intermediate electrode layer is smaller than an area fraction occupied by a pore in the lower electrode layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multilayer electronic component comprising:
a body including a dielectric layer and internal electrodes alternately disposed while having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween; and
external electrodes disposed on the body,
wherein the external electrodes include a lower electrode layer including copper (Cu) and glass, an intermediate electrode layer including copper (Cu) and disposed on the lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer including silver (Ag) and glass and disposed on the intermediate electrode layer, and
an area fraction occupied by a pore in the intermediate electrode layer is smaller than an area fraction occupied by a pore in the lower electrode layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the area fraction occupied by the pore in the intermediate electrode layer is 0.5% or less.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the external electrodes further include an alloy layer including a copper (Cu)-silver (Ag) alloy and disposed between the intermediate electrode layer and the upper electrode layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The component according to claim 3, wherein an area fraction occupied by a pore in the alloy layer is smaller than an area fraction occupied by a pore in the upper electrode layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The component according to claim 3, wherein an average size of pores included in the alloy layer is smaller than an average size of pores included in the upper electrode layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate electrode layer is free of glass.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the lower electrode layer includes copper (Cu) as a main component,
the intermediate electrode layer includes copper (Cu) as a main component, and
the upper electrode layer includes silver (Ag) as a main component.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The component according to claim 7, wherein a content (at %) of copper (Cu) with respect to a total content (at %) of elements included in the intermediate electrode layer is 99 at % or more.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate electrode layer is a plating layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes are respectively disposed on the third and fourth surfaces, and
in a cross section of the body in the first direction and the second direction, and passing through a center of the body in the third direction, t1>t3>t2, where t1 indicates a thickness of a central region of the lower electrode layer in the first direction, t2 indicates a thickness of a central region of the intermediate electrode layer in the first direction, and t3 indicates a thickness of a central region of the upper electrode layer in the first direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The component according to claim 10, wherein the external electrodes further include
an alloy layer including a copper (Cu)-silver (Ag) alloy and disposed between the intermediate electrode layer and the upper electrode layer, and
in the cross section of the body in the first direction and the second direction, and passing through the center of the body in the third direction, t1>t3>t2>t4, where t4 indicates a thickness of a central region of the alloy layer in the first direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes include a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode, and
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes include a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode, and
an end of the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode, and an end of the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes include a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode,
the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode includes a region, which is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode, on the third surface, and
the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode includes a region, which is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode, on the fourth surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes includes a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and disposed between an extension line of the first surface and an extension line of the second surface, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, and
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and disposed between the extension line of the first surface and the extension line of the second surface, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces.

### Claim 16

A multilayer electronic component comprising:
a body including a dielectric layer and internal electrodes alternately disposed while having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween; and
external electrodes disposed on the body,
wherein the external electrodes include a lower electrode layer including copper (Cu) and glass, an intermediate electrode layer including copper (Cu) and disposed on the lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer including silver (Ag) and glass and disposed on the intermediate electrode layer, and
the intermediate electrode layer is a plating layer or a sputtering layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein an area fraction occupied by a pore in the intermediate electrode layer is 0.5% or less.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the external electrodes include an alloy layer including a copper (Cu)-silver (Ag) alloy and disposed between the intermediate electrode layer and the upper electrode layer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The component according to claim 18, wherein an area fraction occupied by a pore in the alloy layer is smaller than an area fraction occupied by a pore in the upper electrode layer.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The component according to claim 18, wherein an average size of pores included in the alloy layer is smaller than an average size of pores included in the upper electrode layer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the intermediate electrode layer is free of glass.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the lower electrode layer includes copper (Cu) as a main component,
the intermediate electrode layer includes copper (Cu) as a main component, and
the upper electrode layer includes silver (Ag) as a main component.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The component according to claim 22, wherein a content (at %) of copper (Cu) with respect to a total content (at %) of elements included in the intermediate electrode layer is 99 at % or more.

### Claim 24 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes are respectively disposed on the third and fourth surfaces, and
in a cross section of the body in the first direction and the second direction, and passing through a center of the body in the third direction, t1>t3>t2, where t1 indicates a thickness of a central region of the lower electrode layer in the first direction, t2 indicates a thickness of a central region of the intermediate electrode layer in the first direction, and t3 indicates a thickness of a central region of the upper electrode layer in the first direction.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The component according to claim 24, wherein the external electrodes further include
an alloy layer including a copper (Cu)-silver (Ag) alloy and disposed between the intermediate electrode layer and the upper electrode layer, and
in the cross section of the body in the first direction and the second direction, and passing through the center of the body in the third direction, t1>t3>t2>t4, where t4 indicates a thickness of a central region of the alloy layer in the first direction.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes include a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode, and
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode.

### Claim 27 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes include a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode, and
an end of the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode, and an end of the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode.

### Claim 28 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes include a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode,
the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode includes a region, which is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode, on the third surface, and
the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode includes a region, which is not covered by the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode, on the fourth surface.

### Claim 29 (depends on 16)

The component according to claim 16, wherein the body has first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction and connected to the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction and connected to the first to fourth surfaces,
the external electrodes includes a first external electrode and a second external electrode,
the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the third surface and disposed between an extension line of the first surface and an extension line of the second surface, the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the first external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the first external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the first external electrode and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces, and
the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the fourth surface and disposed between the extension line of the first surface and the extension line of the second surface, the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode covers the lower electrode layer of the second external electrode, and the upper electrode layer of the second external electrode is disposed on the intermediate electrode layer of the second external electrode and extends to portions of the first and second surfaces.

### Claim 30 (depends on 18)

The component according to claim 18, wherein, in a cross section of the body in the first direction and the second direction, and passing through a center of the body in the third direction, a ratio of a length of a region where the alloy layer is disposed to a total length of an interface between the intermediate electrode layer and the upper electrode layer is 99% or more.
