Study of phase transition in ZrO2 doped with Pb3O4

Electrical conductivity of ZrO2 doped with Pb3O4 has been measured at different temperatures for different molar ratios (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.06). The conductivity increases due to migration of vacancies, created by doping. The conductivity increases with increase in temperature till 180 degrees C and thereby decreases due to collapse of the fluorite framework. A second rise in conductivity at higher temperatures beyond 500-618 degrees C is due to phase transition of ZrO2. DTA and X-ray powder diffraction were carried out for confirming doping effect and transition in ZrO2. The addition of Pb3O4 to ZrO2 shifted the phase transition of ZrO2 due to the interaction between Pb3O4 and ZrO2. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.