Ionic conductivity of plasma-sprayed nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells

Nanocrystalline 10 mol.% yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte was synthesized via the plasma spray technique. The ionic conductivity was measured using AC impedance spectroscopy within the temperature range 350-600 degrees C in air. The measured total 17 ionic conductivity of plasma-sprayed YSZ electrolyte is similar to 2.3 times higher than that of sintered YSZ electrolyte at 600 degrees C in air. The improvement in ionic conductivity is ascribed to the nanocrystalline grain size and siliceous free grain boundary with grain-to-grain contact. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.