Abstract
In this work, DC breakdown behavior in BaTiO3-based multilayer ceramic capacitors is studied. It is found that the current–voltage curves during the breakdown test change after prestressing at low temperature, while at high temperature, the current does not show any change. After measuring the breakdown voltage before and after prestressing, it was confirmed that homo space charge is accumulated near the cathode at low temperature. This causes the increase and decrease of current with and without polarity reversal after prestressing, respectively. However, that no space charge effect can be observed is due to the considerable thermal effect on DC breakdown at high temperature in multilayer ceramic capacitors.