Solid electrolyte sensors and oxygen pumps

The addition of MgO leads to the formation of a naiTow range of solid solutions at high temperamre, which decompose to precipitate inclusions of tetragonal Zr02 dispersed in cubic zirconia. The material, which functions as a solid electrolyte, has the added advantage that the inclusions stop the propagation of any cracks which may arise from rapid temperature change. 

Cubic zirconia Oxygen ions O Zirconium ions 

The electrical conductivities of the solid electrolytes vaty over approximately two orders of magnitude, in the sequence Bi Ce Zr Th 

A unique application of the solid oxygen electrolytes is in dre preparation of mixed oxides from metal vapour deposits. For example, the ceramic superconductors described below, have been prepared from mixtures of the metal vapours in the appropriate proporhons which are deposited on the surface of a solid electrolyte. Oxygen is pumped tluough the electrolyte by the application of a polarizing potential across the electrolyte to provide the oxidant for the metallic layer which is formed. 

Another application is in tire oxidation of vapour mixtures in a chemical vapour transport reaction, the attempt being to coat materials with a tlrin layer of solid electrolyte. For example, a gas phase mixture consisting of the iodides of zirconium and yttrium is oxidized to form a thin layer of ytnia-stabilized zirconia on the surface of an electrode such as one of the lanthanum-snontium doped transition metal perovskites Lai j.Srj.M03 7, which can transmit oxygen as ions and electrons from an isolated volume of oxygen gas. 

Such an electrochemical arrangement can also be used to transport oxygen from one electrode to the other by the imposition of an externally applied potential. This technique, known as coulometric titration , has been used to prepare flowing gas mixtures of oxygen/argon with a controlled oxygen partial pressure, to vary the non-stoichiometry of oxides, to study the thermodynamics of dilute oxygen solutions in metals, and to measure the kinetics of metal oxidation, as examples. 

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