Densification Dynamics of Gadolinium-Doped Ceria upon Sintering

Abstract

Densification behavior upon sintering is studied for gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) by making use of X-ray diffraction, Archimedes method, high-resolution dilatometry (DLT), and element-specific positron annihilation spectroscopy. We found high concentration of vacancy-like nano-defects at GDC-crystallite interfaces participating in densification. Time-resolved length change and positron lifetime measurements enable to discuss the densification dynamics at the particle boundary relevant to a sintering neck and inside the particles. The particle boundary largely contributes to densification at the initial stage of sintering, whereas the crystallite interface gets to be responsible for prolonged densification. The densification inside the particle is developed by the growth of the crystallites followed by the transfer of Gd atoms from the interfaces to the crystallites.