J. Fleig et J. Maier, Finite-element calculations on the impedance of electroceramics with highly resistive grain boundaries: I, laterally inhomogeneous grain boundaries, J AM CERAM, 82(12), 1999, pp. 3485-3493
Lateral inhomogeneities of grain boundaries caused by partially wetting gra
in-boundary phases or pores induced in the grain boundary give rise to curr
ent-constriction resistances close to grain-to-grain contacts. The present
work presents a quantitative three-dimensional analysis of the resulting gr
ain-boundary impedance. Numerical finite-element calculations of the impeda
nce spectra of polycrystalline samples characterized by typical imperfect c
ontact patterns are performed and analyzed. The validity of existing models
is checked, and an interpolation formula for the grain-boundary resistance
is given, using the fraction of contacted area and the number of contact s
pots per grain as parameters. The magnitude of the effects that can be expe
cted in realistic ceramics is emphasized, as well as the question of the ex
tent to which further conclusions on the grain-boundary mechanism can be dr
awn from the temperature, partial-pressure, bias, and grain-size dependence
of the impedance spectra.