Effect of Yb2O3 stabilizing impurity on the structure and properties of (ZrO2)0.9-x(Sc2O3)0.1(Yb2O3)x crystals

Abstract

Abstract The effect of introduction of 0.5 – 2 mol.% Yb2O3 additional doping oxide into ZrO2 – 10 mol.% Sc2O3 solid solutions on the phase composition, structure and electrophysical properties has been studied. ZrO2 stabilization due to the joint effect of 10 mol.% Sc2O3 and 2 mol.% Yb2O3 provides for the formation of transparent homogeneous crystals with a cubic structure having high phase stability. Mechanical grinding of the crystals has not changed their phase composition, the powders retaining the initial fluorite crystalline structure. We show that the high-temperature electrical conductivity of the crystals decreases with an increase in the Yb2O3 concentration.