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Measurement of Partial Conductivities in Mixed Conductors Using Blocking Electrodes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2011

Al Quoc Pham
Affiliation:
University of Houston, Department of Chemistry and Texas Center for Superconductivity, Houston, TX 77204-5641
Allan J. Jacobson
Affiliation:
University of Houston, Department of Chemistry and Texas Center for Superconductivity, Houston, TX 77204-5641
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Abstract

The blocking electrode method commonly used for the determination of the partial conductivities in a mixed ionic-electronic conductor has been suspected by several authors to give incorrect results in some cases. Experimental evidence illustrating the limitations of this method are presented. The resistance of three pellets of YSZ, the middle one playing the role of a “mixed” conductor, was studied by ac impedance spectroscopy. The imperfect contacts on a microscopic scale formed at the interface between the blocking electrodes and the sample were shown to give rise to additional resistances which cannot be separated from the total bulk resistance. The method was also used to study the conductivity of gold metal. Despite the presence of the ionically blocking electrodes an electronic current is observed. This electronic leakage current is due to the interaction with the gaseous environment, the mixed conductor playing the role of an electrode for the conversion of oxygen ions to electrons.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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