ACTA PHYSICA POLONICA A, cilt.127, sa.4, ss.1380-1383, 2015 (SCI-Expanded)
The effect of B2O3 addition on the electrical conductivity of 8 mol% yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia (8YSZ) was investigated by analyzing the impedance spectra of 0-10 wt.% B2O3-doped 8YSZ powders prepared via a colloidal process. The doped powders were then pelletized under a pressure of 200 MPa, and then sintered at 1400 degrees C for 10 h. Measurements of the electrical conductivity of the sintered specimens within a frequency range of 100 mHz-13 MHz, and temperature range of 300-800 degrees C, revealed an increase in conductivity with increasing temperature. Furthermore, the grain interior, grain boundary and total conductivity of 8YSZ were found to be enhanced by the addition of 1 wt.% B2O3. This is attributed to the lattice distortion created by the addition of B3+ cations to the 8YSZ lattice, which leads to an increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies, thus ultimately resulting in an enhanced electrical conductivity.