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Microstructural Aspects of Ionic Conductivity in Nanocrystalline Zirconia

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Handbook of Nanoelectrochemistry

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Abstract

Zirconia solid solutions have been actively intensively investigated as an oxide ion conductor in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), oxygen sensors, or electrochemical oxygen pumps. The importance of grain size and density of grain boundaries in such materials for their properties is obvious. It is generally believed that a formation of nanomaterials with high density of grain boundaries can lead to their much improved electrical properties [1]. A possibility to modify the ion conductor conductive properties by means of changes in its microstructure was shown for the first time, as the explanation of a significant difference in the conductivity values of zirconium dioxide solid solutions, obtained in different conditions [2]. However, a distinct determination the effect of microstructure on the ion conductive properties is not easy, if at all possible. The information on the impact of various elements of the microstructure on the ionic conductivity is scattered and fragmented and practically no systematic studies exist. In the case of zirconium dioxide solid solutions, an additional complication is a strong connection between material microstructural changes with variations in the chemical and phase composition. Describing the effect of microstructure on the conductivity level, the influence of each factor forming the microstructure should be determined separately, i.e., porosity, average particle size, as well as their size distribution, associated with the amount of grain boundaries, and their condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland

    Mirosław M. Bućko

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  1. Mirosław M. Bućko
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Correspondence to Mirosław M. Bućko .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Mahmood Aliofkhazraei

  2. Manufacturing Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Texas Pan-American, Edinburg, Texas, USA

    Abdel Salam Hamdy Makhlouf

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Bućko, M.M. (2016). Microstructural Aspects of Ionic Conductivity in Nanocrystalline Zirconia. In: Aliofkhazraei, M., Makhlouf, A. (eds) Handbook of Nanoelectrochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15266-0_5

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