Zirconium dioxide electric conductivity and its change under ion irradiation

Surface electric conductivity of zirconia ceramics having oxygen non-stoichiometry prepared by impurities doping, thermal annealing in vacuum and ion bombardment was investigated. The only change of oxygen concentration in surface layer was shown cannot induce considerable growth of zirconia conductivity. Formation of localized states structure resulting in insulator-conductor transition appearance in the material takes place if the change of surface layer stoichiometry and specific radiation defects generation under ion irradiation is observed. 14 refs.; 2 figs