Water uptake and conduction property of nano-grained yttria-doped zirconia fabricated by ultra-high pressure compaction at room temperature

The nano-grained specimens of yttria-doped zirconia have been fabricated via a combination of low-temperature nano-powder synthesis and room-temperature high-pressure (4 GPa) compaction. The microstructure is essentially free from macroscopic pores but involves interfacial hydrated layers, which facilitate adsorption of water molecules within the specimens. The three kinds of proton-containing species, i.e., surface terminating OH groups, H-bonded H2O molecules and free H2O molecules, have been distinguished from each other by the Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy analysis in terms of thermal stability, and also by the 1H MAS-NMR measurements. The electric conduction in humidified atmospheres is dominated essentially by proton hopping below ca. 800 K, which is verified by the H/D isotope effect and water vapor pressure dependence. The effect of grain growth on the conductivity suggests that the protonic conduction path is the grain boundary or interface. The present study shows a good feasibility of fabricating proton-conducting materials based on nano-grained oxides, even if the bulk property involves negligible proton solubility and conductivity, by the formation of grain boundary network of interfacial hydration layer.

► Nano-grained (Zr,Y)O2 fabricated via room-temperature high-pressure compaction.
► Specimens retain appreciable amount of water within the interface or grain boundary.
► Electric conduction in humidified conditions is dominated by protons.
► Proton-conduction takes place via proton hopping along interfacial hydrated layers.
► Inorganic Nafion-type protonic conductor based on inter-grain hydrated channel.