Electrical conductivity of thin film ceria grown by pulsed laser deposition

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society 2007, Vol.27 (13), p.4273-4277
• Main Authors: Joo, Jong Hoon, Choi, Gyeong Man
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; CeO 2; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electrical conductivity; Electrical properties of specific thin films; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel Cells; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Other inorganic semiconductors; Physics; PLD; Vacuum deposition
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2007.02.135

Gd-doped ceria (GDC) thin films, 0.5–1.8 μm thick, were deposited on Pt and sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. The in-plane and the perpendicular-to-plane conductivities (hereafter, “across-plane” conductivity) of thin films were measured and compared to that of bulk sample. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy results showed that the films on Pt and sapphire were polycrystalline cubic with a columnar structure. The grain conductivities of the GDC films, obtained from the impedance spectra of in-plane and across-plane measurements, were slightly lower than that of the GDC bulk. However, very little difference in conductivity was shown between films, regardless of substrates and measurement modes. The activation energies and the P O 2 dependence of the GDC thin films were similar to that of bulk GDC. In the low temperature range, the GDC films exhibited conductivities about one order of magnitude higher than that of the YSZ (Yttria-stabilized zirconia) film.