Structure and transport properties of melt grown Sc2O3 and CeO2 doped ZrO2 crystals

In this work we report a study of (ZrO2)1−x−y(Sc2O3)x(СeO2)y solid solution crystals (x = 0.08–0.10; y = 0.005–0.015) grown by skull melting technique. The crystal structure of the material was studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy. The study showed that optically homogeneous and transparent crystals cannot be grown from the melt in the experimental composition range. For overall stabilizing oxide concentrations of above 10 mol% the crystals contained a cubic phase and a rhombohedral one, whereas at concentrations of lower than 10 mol% a cubic and a tetragonal phases coexisted. Ceria introduction into the (ZrO2)1−x(Sc2O3)x system increases its high-temperature ionic conductivity. The highest ionic conductivity was observed in 0.5 mol% ceria containing crystals.