Electrical conductivity of manganese doped yttria (8 mol%) stabilized zirconia

Electrical conductivity of 10 at.% manganese doped yttria (8 mol%) stabilized zirconia (Mn-YSZ) has been investigated using electrochemical cell technique in 800–1000 °C and 1–10− 20 atm oxygen partial pressure P O 2 range. The electrical conductivity increases according to P O 2 1 6 power law with increasing P O 2 in 1–10− 5 atm range, remains P O 2 independent in 10− 5–10− 15 atm range, and slightly decreases with decreasing P O 2 in 10− 15–10− 20 atm range. The deviation from P O 2 1 4 power law is attributed to the presence of multivalent state of manganese ions in 1–10− 5 atm P O 2 range. The electrical conductivity of Mn-YSZ is lower than that of yttria stabilized zirconia in reducing atmosphere. At lower oxygen partial pressures, lattice strain, defect association, and electron trapping results in decreased electrical conductivity.