Electrical properties of Sc-doped CaZrO 3  solid electrolytes

Ekaterina P. Antonova

doi:10.15826/elmattech.2025.4.061

Electrical properties of Sc-doped CaZrO₃ solid electrolytes

Ekaterina P. Antonova

Abstract

The electrical conductivity of the solid electrolytes CaZr_1–xSc_xO_3–_δ (x = 0.03 and 0.08) was investigated as a function of temperature in a humid air atmosphere. The total electrical conductivity was separated into bulk and grain boundary conductivity. The bulk conductivity for CaZr_0.97Sc_0.03O_3–_δ was found to be higher than that for CaZr_0.92Sc_0.08O_3–_δ. Using the oxygen partial pressure dependencies of electrical conductivity, the electron hole and ionic contributions to the total conductivity were distinguished. The oxides were found to be mixed ionic-electron hole conductors in air atmosphere and purely ionic conductors under reductive conditions. Transport numbers for ions and electron holes were calculated. At temperatures below 600 °C, the oxides are expected to behave as nearly pure ionic conductors under air conditions. Although the ionic conductivities for the oxides are comparable, the ionic transport numbers for CaZr_0.97Sc_0.03O_3–_δ were found to be higher than those for CaZr_0.92Sc_0.08O_3–_δ.

Keywords

CaZrO3; solid electrolyte; electrical conductivity; transport number; bulk; grain boundary

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References

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/elmattech.2025.4.061

Copyright (c) 2025 Ekaterina P. Antonova