Zinc self-diffusion coefficients were measured in polycrystalline ZnO of high density (>99% of the theoretical density) and of high purity (> 99.999%). The diffusion experiments were performed from 1006 to 1377 °C, in oxygen atmosphere, for times between 16 and 574 h. The diffusion profiles were established by means of Residual Activity Method using the 65Zn radioactive isotope as zinc tracer. In our experimental conditions, the zinc volume diffusion coefficients can be described by the following Arrhenius relationship: D(cm²/s) = 1.57×10-3 exp[(-2.66 ± 0.26) eV/kT]. In the same experimental conditions, the grain-boundary diffusion coefficients are approximately 4 orders of magnitude greater than the volume diffusion coefficients, and can be described by the Arrhenius relation: D'delta (cm³/s) = 1.59×10-6 exp[(-2.44 ± 0.45) eV/kT], where D' is the grain-boundary diffusion coefficient and delta is the grain boundary width.
zinc oxide; zinc diffusion; grain-boundary; varistor
