Metallic nickel powders, method for preparing the same, conductive paste, and MLCC

Abstract

Provided are a method for preparing metallic nickel powders capable of decreasing the content of an alkaline metal in the metallic nickel powders, metallic nickel powders with the low content of an alkaline metal, a conductive paste including metallic nickel powders with the low content of an alkaline metal, and a multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) including a nickel inner electrode with the low content of an alkaline metal. The method for preparing the metallic nickel powders includes heating a mixture including an organic base, a nickel precursor compound, and a polyol. Wherein, the nickel precursor compound is converted to the metallic nickel powders through reduction by the organic base and the polyol. In the method, the organic base is used instead of the hydroxide of an alkaline metal such as NaOH and KOH. Therefore, the content of an alkaline metal such as sodium and potassium that can be incorporated as an impurity into the metallic nickel powders can be significantly reduced.

1 . Metallic nickel powders with sodium content of about 0.1 to about 25 ppm.  
   
   
       2 . The metallic nickel powders of  claim 1 , which have a particle size of about 20 to about 300 nm.  
   
   
       3 . A conductive paste comprising metallic nickel powders, an organic binder, and an organic solvent, 
 wherein the metallic nickel powders have a sodium content of about 0.1 to about 25 ppm and a particle size of about 20 to about 300 nm.    
   
   
       4 . A multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) comprising a nickel inner electrode with sodium content of about 0.1 to about 25 ppm.