Electrical conductivity of defect fluorite-type (Gd1−x Yb x )2Zr2O7 solid solutions

Abstract: (Gd1−x Yb x )2Zr2O7 (0≤ x ≤1) solid solutions were prepared by pressureless-sintering process at 1973K to investigate the substitution effect of Yb for Gd on their electrical properties. Electrical conductivity of (Gd1−x Yb x )2Zr2O7 solid solutions were measured using complex impedance spectroscopy from 673 to 1173K over a frequency range of 2Hz to 2MHz in air. (Gd1−x Yb x )2Zr2O7 are oxide-ion conductor in the oxygen partial pressure range from 1.0×10−4 to 1.0atm at all test temperature levels. The measured values of grain conductivity obey the Arrhenius relation. The grain conductivity of (Gd1−x Yb x )2Zr2O7 increases with increasing temperature. However, the grain conductivity of (Gd1−x Yb x )2Zr2O7 gradually decreases with increasing ytterbium content at identical temperature levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]