Determination of the Oxygen Self‐Diffusion Coefficients in Y ₂ O ₃ ‐Containing Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals by Raman Spectrometric Monitoring of the ¹⁶ O‐ ¹⁸ O Exchange Reaction

A new method of determining the oxygen self‐diffusion coefficients (D) in oxides has been developed. The method is based on Raman spectroscopy combined with the 16 O– 18 O exchange technique. By using the time dependent 18 O2 concentration measured in a quasi in situ manner by Raman spectroscopy, the oxygen self‐diffusion coefficients are calculated. The calculation takes into account the influence of the surface exchange reaction and the limited gas volume. The result obtained in 2.8 mo1% Y 2 O 3 ‐containing tetragonal zirconia polycrystals is D = 1.55 ( +0.07 ‐0.07 ) x 10 ‐2 exp[(‐120.0 0.4) (kJ/mol) / RT ] cm 2 /sec. It was demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy is useful tool for determining the oxygen self‐diffusion coefficients in oxides.