Sintering and electrical properties of Ce0.75Sm0.2Li0.05O1.95

• Development of 20SDC electrolyte with lattice substitution of 5 mol% Li.
• Density of the samples sintered only at 950 °C was reported as more than 98% of the theoretical one.
• Improved grain conductivity was also achieved.
• Redox stability of 20SDC has also improved with 5 mol% Li substitution.

Ceria-based electrolytes have been widely investigated in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which might be operated at 500–600 °C. Samarium doped (20 mol%) ceria (20SDC) one of the most promising material in this class of compounds. In this work we report effect of lattice substitution of 5 mol % Li on Sm in (20SDC). It was prepared by citrate–nitrate auto combustion synthesis having a powder of average particle size ∼50 nm. The sintered density of more than 98% of the theoretical density at 950 °C has been achieved. Increased ionic conductivity (lattice) at 500 °C has also been achieved in Ce0.75Sm0.2Li0.05O1.95 compare to that of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.95. Corresponding activation energy of conduction ∼0.7 eV has been calculated in the temperature range of 200–600 °C. In reducing atmosphere the electrical conductivity has not been altered much. Thus Ce0.75Sm0.2Li0.05O1.95 has been found to be quite promising in terms of reducing the processing temperature as well as operating temperature of SOFC.