BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE AND ELECTRONIC CURRENT STUDIES OF TANTALUM TANTALUM OXIDE ELECTROLYTE SYSTEMS

Breakdown voltages and electronic current data (at constant voltage) of anodic tantalum oxide films in contact with aqueous, as well as non-aqueous, electrolytes of varying concentrations and compositions have been obtained at 298 K. Both breakdown voltage and electronic current depend on electrolyte concentration, resistivity and composition. A linear relation between breakdown voltage and logarithm of electronic current has been observed. The effect of electrolyte concentration, composition and resistivity on breakdown voltage has been discussed in terms of the Ikonopisov electron injecting avalanche model of electrical breakdown. The values of the parameters for impact ionization coefficient (alpha) and primary electronic current (j(o)) have been evaluated. The major factor contributing to the decrease in breakdown voltage with increasing electrolyte concentration is the increasing primary electronic current.