Effects of gallia addition on sintering behavior and electrical conductivity of yttria-doped ceria

The densification behavior and electrical conductivity of Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 ceramics with gallia concentrations ranging from 0 to 5 mol. % were investigated. The sintered density was found to increase with increasing Ga2O3 content up to 1 mol. % and then to decrease upon further Ga2O3 addition. Dense Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 ceramics with 94% of the theoretical density could be obtained by sintering the milled mixture with 1 mol. % Ga2O3 addition at 1400°C for 5 h. The conductivity of the 1 mol. % Ga2O3-added specimen showed a maximum value of 1.37 × 10−2 Ω−1· cm−1 at 700°C. Pure Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 ceramics needed to be sintered at 1550°C in order to obtain an equivalent theoretical density and conductivity. The introduction of Ga2O3 doping had a good effect on the sintering properties and electrical conductivities of Y2O3-doped CeO2.