ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTION OF YTTRIUM-DOPED STRONTIUM ZIRCONATE

Solid solutions of SrZr1-xYxO3-D.5x having orthorhombic perovskite-type structure with 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.2 have been studied. The conductivity increased and the activation energy decreased with yttrium content up to x=0.2 at low temperature or x=0.05 at high temperature. The proton and oxygen transference numbers measured in H-2,O and oxygen concentration cells, respectively, indicated that this material is a good oxygen ion conductor from 400 to 600 degrees C. At lower temperatures the material was predominantly proton conducting and at high temperatures, the hole conductivity increased until it predominated above 800 degrees C. The substitution of Y3+ for Zr4+ had no significant effect on the transference numbers.