The present work describes the history of SnO2-based varistor systems. The main characteristic of these new varistor systems and a direct comparison with the traditional ZnO-based varistor system, establishing the advantages and disadvantages, are presented. The work also shows the main difficulties that should be faced related to processing and to the exact contribution of each dopant to the non-ohmic behavior. New perspectives for these new varistor systems are also established.
Varistors; tin oxide
