| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1295362 | Solid State Ionics | 2014 | 6 Pages |
•Electrical conductivity of YSZ coating is modified by G.B. elemental diffusions.•Conductivity of Fe-modified coating is 6 times higher than that of the as-deposited.•Scavenging effects of Fe2O3 on intergranular Si-phase are verified in YSZ coating.•A segregation of Fe and Si into triple grain junctions is confirmed in YSZ coating.•Conductivity of Si-modified YSZ coating is 3 times lower than that of as-deposited.
The YSZ coatings with nanocrystalline columnar structure were prepared by magnetron sputtering and then dip-coated by a Fe-containing sol. The elements from sol decomposition products were diffused at 600 °C for 2 h to modify the columnar grain boundaries. The electrical conductivities of Fe-modified YSZ coating are predominantly ionic and 6–7 times higher than those of the as-deposited coating. The electrical conductivity increment is explained on the scavenging effects of diffused Fe2O3 on the intergranular siliceous phase based on the fact that a strong segregation of Fe and Si into the triple grain junctions is verified by EDS analysis.
