To obtain some insight into the mechanism of cation diffusion in yttria-stabilized zirconia, the diffusion of all stable lanthanides was measured simultaneously. It was possible to identify all lanthanides with secondary ion mass spectrometry and perform depth profile analysis to get the bulk diffusion coefficients between 1270 and 1700C. From analysis of the radius-dependence of the cation diffusion of the lanthanides, it was possible to show that the diffusion of the lanthanides was slowest when their radius was similar to the radius of the stabilized cation (Y).

SIMS Analysis of Multi-Diffusion Profiles of Lanthanides in Stabilized Zirconias. S.Weber, S.Scherrer, H.Scherrer, M.Kilo, M.A.Taylor, G.Borchardt: Applied Surface Science, 2003, 203-204, 656-9