Enhanced low-temperature protonic conductivity in fully dense nanometric cubic zirconia

The authors report on the consolidation of nanostructured bulk cubic zirconia with a grain size of about 15 nm and a relative density greater than 98%. This material exhibits a change in the conduction mechanism with considerable protonic conductivity when exposed to moisture. The marked reduction of the resistivity of zirconia at low temperatures brings it to a level comparable to that typical of other protonic conductors, but with the advantage of superior mechanical and chemical stabilities.