Ionic Conductivities and Microstructures of CeO2:Y203 Solid Electrolytes

Abstract

ABSTRACTIonic conductivities of solid CeO2:Y203 electrolytes were systematically investigated as a function of dopant concentration and sintering temperatures. The highest lattice conductivity occurred at 6–8% dopant concentration, and maximum grain boundary conductivity was observed at 10% dopant concentration. The sintering temperature was found to have a significant effect on the conductivities of the pellets. The samples sintered at lower temperatures (T≤140°C) showed higher grain boundary conductivity than those sintered at 150°C; this was found to be related to size-dependent-impurity segregation and precipitation at grain boundaries. The grain boundary conductivities as related to the microstructure are discussed by adopting different grain boundary models. Solute segregation and oxygen depletion at grain boundaries, which have been suggested to be responsible for the grain boundary resistivities in these samples, were examined by a microanalytical technique for small-grain-size samples.