The characteristic frequencies for ionic conduction in 12 mol.% Y2O3 dopedZrO2

DC conductivity in ionic conductors is proportional to the hopping rate of the charge carriers. The hopping of the charge carriers can result in a die lectric loss peak and the DC conductivity is also proportional to the loss peak frequency. In the present study, the AC conductivity of 12 mol.% Y2O3, doped ZrO2, has been measured and the relationship between the hopping fre quencies characteristic;of the AC conductivities and dielectric loss peak f requencies has been examined. In addition, the peak frequencies in the comp lex impedance plane were also measured, to compare with the hopping frequen cies. It has been demonstrated that two sample constants can be used to con nect the three frequencies. It is suggested that the three frequencies are a consequence of a common phenomena and that all result from the hopping pr ocess of the charge carriers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.