Multilayer ceramic capacitor and method for manufacturing same

A multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising:

• a layered body in which dielectric layers made of a ceramic dielectric material and internal electrode layers having a base metal as a main component thereof are layered alternately;
• and
• an external electrode having an external electrode main body on a surface of said layered body and conductively connected to said internal electrodes drawn out to the surface of said layered body, and a plating layer on a surface of said external electrode main body,
• said external electrode main body containing Cu;
• and
• a protective layer containing Cu2O at a joining portion between said external electrode main body and said plating layer,
• wherein, when heat is applied to said layered body after said external electrode is removed therefrom, and a quantity of hydrogen generated from said layered body is measured, a ratio of a maximum value Xp of a quantity of hydrogen generated per unit temperature in a range higher than or equal to 350° C. with respect to an arithmetic mean value Y of a quantity of hydrogen generated per unit temperature in a range higher than or equal to 230° C. and lower than or equal to 250° C. (Xp/Y) is less than or equal to 0.66.

A method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor, the method comprising:

• forming a layered body in which dielectric layers made of a ceramic dielectric material and internal electrode layers having a base metal as a main component are layered alternately;
• forming an external electrode main body on a surface of said layered body so as to be conductively connected to said internal electrodes drawn out to the surface of said layered body;
• forming a plating layer on a surface of said external electrode main body by electroplating to form a ceramic element main body;
• and
• heat-treating the ceramic element body under a temperature condition higher than or equal to 150° C. so as to emit hydrogen taken into said ceramic element body during said electroplating to an outside of the ceramic element main body.