Thermal and structural study of BIVOX undoped and doped with La in various atmosphere toward applications in IT-SOFC

The thermal and structural properties of two electrolytes-Bi4V2O11 (BIVOX) and Bi3.64V1.67O9.64-doped with 4 wt% lanthanum oxide (BILAVOX) were investigated. Both electrolytes were characterized by XRD, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The thermal properties of BIVOX and BILAVOX were analyzed in air, argon, and reducing (argon with 5% of hydrogen) atmospheres for 5 and 20 h of exposure time and at temperatures of 400, 650, or 750 °C. DSC studies of both electrolytes were performed during a heating and cooling scan at a rate of 10 °C/min. The possibility of the application of the BILAVOX electrolyte for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) is discussed.