Composites of ZrO2-(Bi2CuO4+20wt%Bi2O3), with 50 to 80vol%ZrO2, were synthesized and their physicochemical properties were studied. It was demonstrated that the composites comprised triple-phase mixtures of ZrO2 in a monoclinic modification, Bi2CuO4, and solid-solution Bi2−xZrxO3+x/2 and retained their mechanical strength up to 800C. Impedance spectroscopy was used to examine their electroconductivity at 700 to 800C for O partial pressures from 37 to 2.1 x 104Pa. The conductivity of the best specimens was 0.01S/cm; with the electronic and ionic transport numbers being nearly equal. A composite consisting of 50vol%ZrO2 and 50vol%(Bi2CuO4+20wt%Bi2CuO4) was tested as an O-separating membrane. The selective O flux at 750 to 800C was 2.2 x 10−8 to 6.3 x 10−8mol/cm2s.

Physicochemical Properties and Mixed Electronic and Ionic Conduction of Composite Ceramics in the System ZrO2-Bi2CuO4-Bi2O3. N.V.Lyskov, Y.G.Metlin, K.I.Astafeva, Y.D.Tretyakov, L.S.Leonova, Y.A.Dobrovolskii: Russian Journal of Electrochemistry, 2007, 43[4], 390-7