Properties of β-alumina doped with cerium

Cerium-doped β-alumina was prepared by sintering samples of β-alumina with Ce(III) nitrate or Ce(IV) oxide. The maximum solubility of cerium in β-alumina was determined to be ∼ 10 w/o Ce using Vegard's Law. X-Ray absorption corrections were made for angles greater than 50°, using the wide-angle error function. The photoacoustic spectrum of cerium-doped β-alumina was determined and was consistent with the uv-visible absorption spectrum of Ce(IV) in an oxide lattice. Magnetic susceptibility measurements also indicated the existence of Ce(IV) in the β-alumina lattice. Conductivity values were measured on samples containing 2 and 4 w/o cerium. A decrease in conductivity compared to undoped β-alumina was similar to that found for Cr(IV)-doped β-alumina.