The atomic structure and chemical composition of a Σ = 3, [110]/{111} symmetrical tilt grain boundary in an yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia bicrystal was investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and nanoprobe energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The experimental high-resolution transmission electron microscopic images were compared with simulated images for a model obtained by lattice statics calculations. It was found that the grain boundary had 2 individual mirror symmetrical planes in cation and anion sub-lattices. In this case, the cations were forced to form

sevenfold coordination in the vicinity of the boundary owing to the restraint of the boundary structure, while the cations in the cubic fluorite structure had eightfold coordination. The segregation of Y ions was experimentally detected at the Σ = 3 boundary, a finding that was considered to be closely related to the change in the local coordination at the boundary.

Atomic Structure and Solute Segregation of a Σ = 3, [110]/{111} Grain Boundary in an Yttria-Stabilized Cubic Zirconia Bicrystals. N.Shibata, Y.Ikuhara, F.Oba, T.Yamamoto, T.Sakuma: Philosophical Magazine Letters, 2002, 82[7], 393-400