Ionic and electronic conductivity of 3 mol% Fe sub(2)O sub(3)-substituted cubic yttria-stabilized ZrO sub(2) (YSZ) and scandia-stabilized ZrO sub(2) (ScSZ)

Scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) electrolytes exhibit the highest ionic conductivity among all ZrO sub(2)-based materials. However, a phase transition occurs around 650 [degrees]C from cubic to rhombohedral beta -phase which is unique for Sc-stabilized zirconia and leads to reduced conductivity. The occurrence of this beta -phase can be suppressed by co-doping ScSZ. The aims of this study are to confirm the influence of a small amount of Fe sub(2)O sub(3) doping on both the stabilization of the cubic phase and the decrease of the sintering temperature and to investigate the influence of this co-doping on the ionic and electronic conductivity of ScSZ. Therefore (ZrO sub(2)) sub(0.90)-(Sc sub(2)O sub(3)) sub(0.07)-(Fe sub(2)O sub(3)) sub(0 .03) powder has been prepared by precipitation in aqueous solution and sintered at 1380 [degrees]C to obtain ceramic The electrical properties (ionic and electronic conductivities) of this ceramic are compared to the ones of Fe-doped YSZ.