Polycrystalline Tetragonal Zirconia of the Form <i>ZrO₂: 3 mol% Re₂O₃ </i>(Re-TZP) for Use in Oxygen Sensors: Synthesis, Characterization and Ionic Conductivity

Abstract

Oxygen ion conductors of zirconia based ceramics are a class of materials with technological applications in several application areas: sensors of chemical species, oxygen pumps, solid oxide fuel cells among others [1]. For these applications, the zirconia must possess the fluorite type crystal structure, or close to it. Such oxides with this structure are the classic oxygen ion conductors [2]. The fluorite structure consists of a cubic lattice of oxygen ions surrounded by cations. The cations are arranged in a face centered cubic structure with anions occupying tetrahedral positions. This leads to an open structure with large empty octahedral interstices.