Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T02:06:57.499Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Consolidation and properties of Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 nanoparticles for solid-oxide fuel cell electrolytes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2006

A.I.Y. Tok*
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
L.H. Luo
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
F.Y.C. Boey
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
J.L. Woodhead
Affiliation:
Advanced Material Resources (Europe) Ltd., Abingdon OX14 34S, United Kingdom
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Gd-doped ceria solid solutions have been recognized to be leading electrolytes for use in intermediate-temperature fuel cells. In this paper, the preparation, solubility, and densification of Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 ceramics derived from carbonate co-precipitation are reported. The dissolution of Gd2O3 in CeO2 lattice was identified to be completed during the co-precipitation process by studying the lattice parameter as a function of temperature. After calcination at 800 °C for 2 h, the nano-sized Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 powder (∼33 nm) with a nearly spherical shape and a narrow particle-size distribution was obtained. This calcined powder has high sinterability and maximum densification rate at ∼1000 °C. Sintering at 1300 °C for 4 h yielded over 97% relative density with near maximum. The grain size increased with increases in sintering temperature. The ionic conductivity of these pellets was tested by alternating current impedance spectroscopy to elucidate the contribution of intragranular and intergranular conductivity to the total ionic conductivity. It was found that sintering temperature does not affect intragranular conductivity, though intergranular conductivity was strongly influenced by grain size, grain boundary area, and relativity density. This pellet sintered at 1500 °C for 4 h showed a high ionic conductivity of 5.90 × 10−2 s/cm when measured at 750 °C. The characterization and structural evaluation of the as-received powders were carried out using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and dilatometer and impedance analysis.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Kilner, J.A.: Fast anion transport in solids. Solid State Ionics 8, 201 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Gerhard-Anderson, R. and Nowick, A.S.: Ionic conductivity of CeO2 with trivalent dopants of different ionic radii. Solid State Ionics 5, 547 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Kudo, T. and Obayashi, H.: Oxygen ion conduction of the fluorite-type Ce1−xInxO2−x /2 (Ln = lanthanide element). J. Electrochem. Soc. 122, 142 (1975).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Gerhardt, R., Nowick, A.S., Mochel, M.E. and Dumler, I.: Grain-boundary effect in ceria doped with trivalent cations: I. Electrical measurement. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 69, 641 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Gerhardt, R., Nowick, A.S., Mochel, M.E. and Dumler, I.: Grain-boundary effect in ceria doped with trivalent cations: II. Microstructure and microanalysis. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 69, 647 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Pound, B.G.: The characterization of doped CeO2 electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells. Solid State Ionics 52, 183 (1992).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Higashi, K., Sonoda, K., Ono, H., Sameshima, S. and Hirata, Y.: Synthesis and sintering of rare-earth-doped ceria powder by the oxalate co-precipitation method. J. Mater. Res. 14, 957 (1999).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Huang, K., Feng, M. and Goodenough, J.B.: Synthesis and electrical properties of dense Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 ceramics. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 81, 357 (1998).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Yamashita, K., Ramanujachary, K.V. and Greenblatt, M.: Hydrothermal synthesis and low temperature conduction properties of substituted ceria ceramics. Solid State Ionics 81, 53 (1995).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Tok, A.I.Y., Luo, L.H. and Boey, F.Y.C.: Carbonate co-precipitation of Gd2O3-doped CeO2 solid solution nano-particles. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 383, 229 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Zhang, T.S., Ma, J., Kong, L.B., Hing, P., Chan, S.H. and Kilner, J.A.: High-temperature aging behavior of Gd-doped ceria. Electrochem. Solid-State Lett. 7, J13 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Chen, X.J., Khor, K.A., Chan, S.H. and Yu, L.G.: Influence of microstructure on the ionic conductivity of yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 335, 246 (2002).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Mogensen, M., Sammes, N.M. and Tompsett, G.A.: Physical, chemical and electrochemical properties of pure and doped ceria. Solid State Ionics 129, 63 (2000).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Kharton, V.V., Marques, F.M.D. and Atkinson, A.: Transport properties of solid oxide electrolyte ceramics: A brief review. Solid State Ionics. 174, 135 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar