Monolithic ceramic electronic component and method for manufacturing the same

A monolithic ceramic electronic component comprising:

• a ceramic laminate including:
• a plurality of ceramic layers;
• and
• a plurality of internal electrode layers disposed between the plurality of ceramic layers such that a portion of each internal electrode layer is led to an end surface of the ceramic laminate;
• and
• an external electrode disposed on the end surface of the ceramic laminate, to which the plurality of internal electrode layers are led, so as to connect to the plurality of internal electrode layers;
• wherein
• at least one end portion in a longitudinal direction of at least one of the uppermost internal electrode layer and the lowermost internal electrode layer among the plurality of internal electrode layers led to and exposed at the end surface of the ceramic laminate is covered with a glass film;
• and
• the plurality of internal electrode layers and the external electrode are electrically connected to each other at portions not covered with the glass film among the exposed portions of the plurality of internal electrode layers.

A method for manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic component including a ceramic laminate, in which internal electrode layers are disposed between ceramic layers such that a portion of each internal electrode is led to an end surface of the ceramic substrate, and an external electrode disposed on the end surface of the ceramic laminate, to which the internal electrode layers are led, so as to connect to the internal electrode layers and having a structure in which at least one end portion in a longitudinal direction of an exposed portion of the internal electrode layer exposed at the end surface of the ceramic laminate is covered with a glass film, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming the ceramic laminate including the internal electrode layers disposed between the ceramic layers such that a portion of each internal electrode is led to an end surface of the ceramic substrate;
• (b) applying a glass paste to a support;
• (c) immersing the end surface of the ceramic laminate, at which the internal electrode layers are led and exposed, into the glass paste on the support such that the glass paste is adhered to at least one end portion in a longitudinal direction of the exposed portion of the internal electrode layer;
• (d) applying an electrically conductive paste for forming an external electrode to the end surface of the ceramic laminate, in which the glass paste is adhered to at least one end portion of the ceramic laminate in the longitudinal direction of the exposed portion of the internal electrode layer;
• and
• (e) heat-treating the ceramic laminate to bake the glass paste and the electrically conductive paste so as to fire the glass film and the external electrode.

A method for manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic component including a ceramic laminate, in which internal electrode layers are disposed between ceramic layers such that a portion of each internal electrode is led to an end surface of the ceramic laminate, and an external electrode disposed on the end surface, to which the internal electrode layers are led, so as to connect to the internal electrode layers and having a structure in which at least one end portion in a longitudinal direction of an exposed portion of the internal electrode layer exposed at the end surface of the ceramic laminate is covered with a glass film, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming the ceramic laminate including the internal electrode layers disposed between the ceramic layers such that a portion of each internal electrode is led to an end surface of the ceramic laminate;
• (b) applying a glass paste to a support;
• (c) immersing one end portion of the end surface of the ceramic laminate, at which the internal electrode layers are exposed, into the glass paste, in a position in which the ceramic laminate is inclined and a ridge substantially parallel to the lamination direction, among ridges included in the end surface of the ceramic laminate, is nearly parallel to the surface of the glass paste applied to the support, so as to adhere the glass paste to at least the one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the exposed portion of the internal electrode layer, in a glass paste application step;
• (d) applying an electrically conductive paste for forming an external electrode to the end surface of the ceramic laminate, in which the glass paste is adhered to at least the one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the exposed portion of the internal electrode layer, of the ceramic laminate;
• and
• (e) heat-treating the ceramic laminate to bake the glass paste and the electrically conductive paste so as to fire the glass film and the external electrode.