Mixed conductivity, structural and microstructural characterization of titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline/titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia composite anode matrices

Taking advantage of the fact that TiO2 additions to 8YSZ cause not only the formation of a titania-doped YSZ solid solution but also a titania-doped YTZP solid solution, composite materials based on both solutions were prepared by solid state reaction. In particular, additions of 15 mol% of TiO2 give rise to composite materials constituted by 0.51 mol fraction titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline and 0.49 mol fraction titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia (0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ). Furthermore, Y2(Ti1−yZry)2O7 pyrochlore is present as an impurity phase with y close to 1, according to FT-Raman results. Lower and higher additions of titania than that of 15 mol%, i.e., x=0, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were considered to study the evolution of 8YSZ phase as a function of the TiO2 content. Furthermore, zirconium titanate phase (ZrTiO4) is detected when the titania content is equal or higher than 20 mol% and this phase admits Y2O3 in solid solution according to FE-SEM-EDX.The 0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ duplex material was selected in this study to establish the mechanism of its electronic conduction under low oxygen partial pressures. In the pO2 range from 0.21 to 10−7.5 atm. the conductivity is predominantly ionic and constant over the range and its value is 0.01 S/cm. The ionic plus electronic conductivity is 0.02 S/cm at 1000 °C and 10−12.3 atm. Furthermore, the onset of electronic conductivity under reducing conditions exhibits a −1/4 pO2 dependence. Therefore, it is concluded that the n-type electronic conduction in the duplex material can be due to a small polaron-hopping between Ti3+ and Ti4+.

FE-SEM micrograph of a polished and thermal etched surface of a Ti-doped YTZP/Ti-doped YSZ composite material.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► Ti-doped YTZP/Ti-doped YSZ composite materials are mixed conductors under low partial pressures.
► From 5 mol% of TiO2, Y2(Ti1−y,Zry)2O7 pyrochlore is present as a minor phase, being y close to 1 according to FT-Raman studies.
► The onset of the electronic conductivity under reducing conditions exhibit a −1/4 pO2 dependence. The n-type electronic conduction is due to a small polaron-hopping between Ti3+ and Ti4+.