EXAFS study of yttria stabilized cubic zirconia

Abstract EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) studies of cubic (ZrO 2 ) 1− x (Y 2 O 3 ) x are reported for the concentration range 0.09 x 2− vacancies are also introduced for charge compensation. However, the distribution of the O 2− vacancies in the structure is not known. In this EXAFS study, systematics of disorder and vacancy distribution on the oxygen sublattice are monitored from both the Zr and Y sites as Y, and hence O 2− vacancy content, is varied. It is observed that oxygen vacancies occur adjacent to both Y and Zr ions but preferentially in proximity to Zr.