Effect of Synthesis Conditions on the Physicochemical Properties of Xerogels, Nanopowders, and Ceramic Materials in the CeO2–Nd2O3 System.

Abstract—Highly dispersed mesoporous powders of the CeO₂)_{1 – x}(Nd₂O₃)_x (х = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) composition are synthesized by liquid methods such as coprecipitation of hydroxides and cocrystallization of nitrate salts. The powders have a specific pore volume of 0.030–0.111 cm³/g and a specific surface area of 7.40–119.26 m²/g. On their basis, ceramic nanomaterials of a given composition with CSR ~ 69–88 nm (1300°С) are obtained. The physicochemical properties of the resulting ceramic have been studied; it is revealed that it is a solid solution with open porosity in the range of 17–30% and high values of relative density of 89–96%. In terms of their physicochemical properties (density, thermal expansion coefficient), the resulting ceramic materials are promising as solid oxide electrolytes for intermediate-temperature fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]