Defect-property correlations in garnet crystals. III. The electrical conductivity and defect structure of luminescent nickel-doped yttrium aluminum garnet

The conduction mechanisms in nickel-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ni:YAG) have been studied as a function of temperature and partial pressue of oxygen. ac conductivity and ionic transference measurements show that Ni:YAG is a mixed ionic-electronic conductor with an ionic mobility characterized by an activation energy of 2.0-2.2 eV. The reduction of Ni⁺³ to Ni⁺² causes an increase in the oxygen vacancy concentration and a concurrent rise in the magnitude of the ionic conductivity. Codoping with zirconium, on the other hand, fixes the nickel in the divalent state, increases the n-type conductivity, and lowers the degree of ionic conductivity. A defect model is presented which is consistent with all of these observations.