SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF OXYGEN VACANCIES IN SOLID OXIDE ELECTROLYTES

The primary species in both solid-state conduction and heterogeneous electrocatalysis of solid oxide electrolytes is the anion vacancy. The nature and effect of the local environment on anion vacancies in 10 m/o yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and 20 m/o erbia stabilized bismuth oxide (ESB) was studied using uv-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Partial reduction of YSZ and ordering of the oxygen sublattice in ESB is discussed. The species common to both of these phenomena, anion vacancies, was found to be luminescent and the absorption and fluorescence spectra attributable to F-center type defects is described. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.