Ionic conductivity, sintering and thermal expansion behaviors of mixed ion conductor BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ prepared by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid assisted glycine nitrate process

BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ as a candidate electrolyte material is prepared by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid assisted glycine-nitrate process. After calcining at 900 °C, the single-phase perovskite is obtained due to the better distribution of starting materials and the more feasible reaction kinetic conditions than solid state reaction method. The relative densities reach 96.8 and 98.4% respectively after sintering the pressed pellets at 1280 and 1400 °C for 10 h. In humidified oxygen the ionic conductivities are 0.015, 0.045, 0.101 and 0.207 S cm−1 at 500, 600, 700 and 800 °C, respectively. In air and humidified oxygen the activation energies for ionic conductivity are 66.1 and 68.9 kJ mol−1. In humidified hydrogen, however, different activation energies occur in low and high temperature ranges. The thermal expansion curve inflections at 500–800 °C with respect to possible phase changes are found. Zirconia aggregation possibly results in the higher activation energy and peculiar thermal expansion behavior. The results indicate the ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid assisted glycine-nitrate process is a very promising preparation method for solid oxide fuel cell practical application.

Research highlights
► The BZCYYb was successfully prepared by EDTA assisted glycine nitrate process.
► Single-phase BZCYYb was obtained after sintering at 900 °C for 2 h.
► The relative density reached 98.4% after sintering the pellet at 1400 °C for 10 h.
► The ionic conductivity in humidified oxygen reached 0.101 Scm−1 at 700 °C.
► The thermal expansion curve inflections at 500–800 °C were found.