Conductivity of commercial zirconia electrolytes—I. Ionic and n-type conductivities of 15 m/o CSZ at oxygen pressures of Cr(s)-Cr 2O 3(s) mixture

Abstract

The total and n-type conductivities of commercial 15 m/o calcia stabilized zirconia (CSZ) electrolyte have been measured by applying ac and blocking electrode techniques respectively on cells Mo/Cr(s)-Cr 2O 3(s)/CSZ/Cr(s)-Cr 2O 3(s)/Mo and (+) Mo/Cr(s)-Cr 2O 3(s)/CSZ/Pt-Rh 10%/Mo (−). The ionic and n-type conductivity activation energies are reported in the temperature range 1195–1917 K as in the n-type conductivity dependence on the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure of the Cr(s)-Cr 2O 3(s) mixture. The t ion has been evaluated and chronoamperometric technique to measure it is also reported. Some consideration has been given on the physicochemical behaviour of the Cr(s)-Cr 2O 3(s) mixture deriving from certain anomalies observed in the conductivity trends at the highest temperature values.