Measurements of Oxygen Pressure Dependence of Electrical Conductivity for (U_yTh_1−y)O_2+x

Abstract

The oxygen pressure dependence of electrical conductivity for solid solution (U_yTh_1−y)O_2+x was measured in the oxygen pressure range 1 to 10⁻²⁵ atm at 699° and 882°C.
Between the oxygen pressure dependence of conductivity and the mean valence of U ion in the solid solution, there exists a correlation which is independent of the value of y.
In the range of about 4.02 to 4.3 in the mean valence of U ion, the conductivity is considered to be due to a polaron hopping mechanism similar to that of UO_2+x proposed by Aronson et al.