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Electrical conduction in CaO-doped thoria electrolytes

Journal Article · · J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2132675· OSTI ID:7125074
The electrical conductivity of sintered specimens of nominally pure thoria and thoria doped with 1-15 mole percent (m/o) CaO was measured between 600/sup 0/ and 1400/sup 0/C in the P/sub 02/ range of 1-10/sup -25/ atm. The measured conductivity decreases initially with decreasing P/sub 02/ (mixed conduction region where electron holes and oxygen ions contribute), until it becomes independent of P/sub 02/ (ionic conduction region). The P/sub 02/ corresponding to the transition between these regions is a function of temperature and composition. The variation of conductivity with temperature gives rise to three regions: the high temperature region where the conductivity is attributed to dissociated vacancies, an intermediate temperature range where associated vacancy-impurity complexes dominate, and a low temperature region where grain boundary effects appear to become significant. The activation energy for electrical conduction is a function of composition and P/sub 02/. (7 figures, 31 references)
Research Organization:
Indian Inst. of Tech., Kanpur
OSTI ID:
7125074
Journal Information:
J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 123:11; ISSN JESOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English