Comparative analysis of the structure and electrical properties of single crystal and ceramic (ZrO2)0.90(Sc2O3)0.09(Yb2O3)0.01 solid electrolyte

Ceramics with the composition of (ZrO2)0.90(Sc2O3)0.09(Yb2O3)0.01 was obtained by tape casting onto a moving substrate using the original powder obtained by grinding single crystals. The phase composition, crystalline, and local structure of ceramics and single crystals were studied using X-ray diffractometry, Raman, and optical spectroscopy. The electrical conductivity of the samples was measured using impedance spectroscopy methods in the temperature range of 350–900 °C. It has been shown that the phase composition, crystalline and local structure, as well as the crystal lattice parameter of ceramics do not undergo changes compared to single crystals. The technological process used for ceramics manufacture did not lead to contamination of the material with foreign impurities. The electrical conductivity of ceramic samples was less than the electrical conductivity of a single crystal over the entire temperature range. Thus, the values of electrical conductivity of ceramics and single crystals at a temperature of 1173 °K were equal to 0.176 and 0.235 S/cm, respectively. The observed differences in electrical conductivity are likely due to the presence of pores and grain boundaries in the ceramic samples.