A solid solution of 8mol% of scandia-stabilized cubic-zirconia (8ScSZ) was
prepared by co-precipitation technique. The synthesized powder has an average
crystallite size 40nm, surface area of 8.49m2/g, and agglomerated particle size of
150nm. The activation energy of 8ScSZ was calculated from impedance loss
spectra; electrical modulus spectra were in the range of 0.90 to 1.30eV. The
frequency and temperature-dependent conductivities and impedances were
measured at 50Hz to 1MHz and 300 to 900K, respectively. Complex impedance
spectra, complex modulus formalism and complex conductivity spectra were
carefully analyzed in order to separate the grain, grain boundary and electrode–
electrolyte effects. Analysis of ac impedance data using complex impedance
indicates a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance behaviour of the
materials. The intrinsic conductivity was mainly due to hopping of mobile ions
among the available localized site. Relaxation time obtained from complex
conductivity spectra were matched well with the impedance loss and modulus loss
spectra. Impedance analysis suggested the presence of temperature-dependent
electrical relaxation process in the material.
Ionic Conductivity and Electrical Relaxation of Nanocrystalline Scandia-Stabilized
c-Zirconia Using Complex Impedance Analysis. A.Kumar, I.Manna: Physica B,
2008, 403[13-16], 2298-305