Charge Transfer Between Oxygen and Zirconia.

The extent of the surface charge, that develops during oxidation of zirconia, is determined using work function measurements for both bulk specimen and thin films. The bulk specimen of yttria-doped zirconia (10 mol%) exhibits maxima of the surface electrical effect at 373 and 973 K (130 and 280 mV, respectively) that can be considered in terms of oxygen chemisorption and oxygen non-stoichiometry. Thin film of undoped zirconia exhibits a maximum at 473 K (260 eV). Addition of yttria (10 mol%) to the thin film results in a substantial reduction of the maximum, to about 140 eV, that is shifted up to 600 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]