Search

Abstract: The effect of small addition of different sintering aids (MoO3 and WO3) on the electrical properties of Ce0.9Nd0.1O2−δ has been investigated. The (Ce0.9Nd0.1)1−x M x O2−δ (x = 0.0; M = Mo, W, x = 0.01; Ce0.9Nd0.1O2−δ : NDC, (Ce0.9Nd0.1)0.99Mo0.01O2−δ : NDCMo; (Ce0.9Nd0.1)0.99W0.01O2−δ : NDCW) solid solutions were prepared and characterized. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that all the samples are single phases with a cubic fluorite structure. Moreover, from the field-emission scanning electron microscopy results, it is found (Ce0.9Nd0.1)0.99M0.01O2−δ (M = Mo, W) sintered at 1300 °C for 15 h have better sinterability than Ce0.9Nd0.1O2−δ . The total conductivity by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are ranked as: NDCW  > NDCMo  > NDC measured at 700 °C, which is attributed to microstructures. It can be concluded that MoO3 and WO3 are both effective and WO3 seems to be more potential as sintering aids on the optimization of electrical properties for ceria-based electrolytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to identify competitive ion-conducting materials in ceria-carbonates composite electrolytes, M-NLCO (M = Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-δ (SDC), Ce0.8Gd0.2O2-δ (GDC), Ce0.8Y0.2O2-δ (YDC); NLCO = 0.53Li2CO3–0.47Na2CO3) sintered at different temperatures (600° C, 625° C, 650° C, 675° C and 700° C) have been prepared and characterized. It is found that independent of systems, the 675° C-sintered composites in M-NLCO always present the highest conductivities because of the best NLCO distribution and interfacial microstructures. Moreover, among three composites (sintered at 675° C), the total () and grain boundary () conductivities measured at 600° C are ranked as: SDC-NLCO (, ) ﹥ GDC-NLCO (, ) ﹥ YDC-NLCO (, ), which is attributed to ionic-radius compatibility between the dopant and the host as well as the NLCO distribution and interfacial microstructures. It can be concluded that ionic-radius compatibility between the dopant and the host, NLCO distribution and interfacial microstructures have important effects on improving ionic conductivities for ceria-carbonates composite electrolytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of novel composite electrolytes based on 20 mol% Gd doped CeO 2 with varying amounts of (Li/Na) 2 SO 4 have been synthesized. X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope were applied to characterize the phase components and microstructures of the composite electrolytes. Their ionic conductivities were determined by AC impedance spectroscopy. It has been found that the optimum sintering temperature and sulphate content for the composite electrolyte is 870 °C and 20 wt% (Li/Na) 2 SO 4 , respectively. Above 550 °C, a sharp increase in conductivity occurred, which can be interpreted as superionic phase transitions in the interface phases between GDC and sulphates. Both the high ionic conductivities above the transition temperature, 0.191, 0.298 and 0.372 S cm −1 at 550, 650 and 750 °C respectively, and low activation energy (0.303 eV) highlight composite GDC-20 wt% (Li/Na) 2 SO 4 a promising electrolyte candidate for application in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to optimize the electrical properties of co-doped ceria electrolytes, Ce 0.8 Ca 0.15 Sm 0.05 O 2− δ (CCS) sintered at different temperatures (1150 °C, 1200 °C, 1250 °C, 1300 °C and 1350 °C for 8 h) have been prepared and systematically investigated. It is found that among these samples sintered at different conditions, the electrical conductivity ( σ ) measured at 800 °C can be ranked as: CCS 1250 °C : σ CCS 1250 ° C 800 ° C = 2.38 × 10 −2 S cm −1 > CCS 1200 °C : σ CCS 1200 ° C 800 ° C = 1.81 × 10 −2 S cm −1 > CCS 1150 °C : σ CCS 1150 ° C 800 ° C = 1.50 × 10 −2 S cm −1 > CCS 1300 °C : σ CCS 1300 ° C 800 ° C = 1.26 × 10 −2 S cm −1 > CCS 1350 °C : σ CCS 1350 ° C 800 ° C = 0.68 × 10 −2 S cm −1 . The electrical conductivity of CCS increases with the increase of sintering temperatures, and the 1250 °C-sintered sample presents the highest conductivity because of the best microstructures. However, the electrical conductivity of CCS decreases when the sintering temperatures goes beyond 1250 °C. We attribute this to the phase instability. It reveals that microstructures and the phase stability have important effects on the optimization of electrical properties for the co-doped ceria electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]