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Analysis of the Atomic-Scale Defect Chemistry at Interfaces in Fluorite Structured Oxides by Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Y. Ito
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115
Y Lei
Affiliation:
Department of Physics (M/C 273), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607
N.D. Browning
Affiliation:
Department of Physics (M/C 273), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607
T.J. Mazanec
Affiliation:
BP Amoco Chemicals, Naperville, IL 60566-7011
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Abstract

Gd3+ doped Ce oxides are a major candidate for use as the electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells operating at ∼500 °C. Here, the effect of the atomic structure on the local electronic properties, i.e. oxygen coordination and cation valence, at grain boundaries in the fluorite structured Gd0.2Ce0.8O2-x ceramic electrolyte is investigated by a combination of atomic resolution Z-contrast imaging and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). In particular, EELS analyses from grain boundaries reveals a complex interaction between segregation of the dopant (Gd3+), oxygen vacancies and the valence state of Ce. These results are similar to observations from fluorite-structured Yttria-Stabilized Zirconium (YSZ) bicrystal grain boundaries.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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