The compositional dependence of ionic conductivity in the ZrO2–Y2O3–Yb2O3 system was investigated at 573 to 873K by using the complex impedance technique. It was shown that the conductivity decreased with increasing concentration of Yb2O3 in the system ZrO2–Y2O3–Yb2O3. Analyzing the experimental data according to the classic Arrhenius equation showed that such an experimental phenomenon could be attributed to the tighter association between Yb3+ and O vacancy, compared with that between Y3+ and O vacancy, which hinders the migration of O vacancy in the materials.

Low-Temperature Ionic Conductivity of the Solid Solution in the System ZrO2–Y2O3–Yb2O3. Y.Li, J.Gong, Y.Xie, Z.Tang, Z.Zhang: Materials Science and Engineering B, 2002, 90[3], 287-90