The ionic conductivity of 10mol%Y2O3-stabilized zirconia single crystals was enhanced by introducing a high density of dislocations. The single crystals were systematically deformed in compression at 1300C, and their electrical conductivity was measured by using an alternating-current impedance method. It was confirmed that a large number of dislocations were introduced by the high-temperature deformation, and that the density attained more than 8 x 1012/m2; depending upon the compressive strains imposed on the samples. The electrical conductivity of the deformed samples was found to be higher than that of undeformed samples. Samples with higher strains exhibited higher electrical conductivity, which indicated that dislocations generated by the plastic deformation played an important role in enhancing the ionic conductivity.

Dislocation-Enhanced Ionic Conductivity of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia. K.Otsuka, A.Kuwabara, A.Nakamura, T.Yamamoto, K.Matsunaga, Y.Ikuhara: Applied Physics Letters, 2003, 82[6], 877-9