Microwave-induced combustion synthesis and ionic conductivity of Ce0.8(Gd0.2−xSmx)O1.90 ceramics

Ce0.8(Gd0.2−xSmx)O1.90 nanopowders were successfully synthesized by a microwave-induced combustion process. The whole process takes only 30 min. The phase identification and morphology of resultant powders were investigated by XRD and SEM. Moreover, the correlation of ionic conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient for Ce0.8(Gd0.2−xSmx)O1.90 ceramics from microwave-induced combustion process also is discussed in this paper. The results revealed that the bulk densities of Ce0.8(Gd0.2−xSmx)O1.90 ceramics sintered at 1450 °C for 3 h were all greater than 95% of that in theoretical densities. The maximum electrical conductivity, σ850°C = 0.051 S/cm, minimum activation energy, Ea = 0.77 eV and minimum thermal expansion coefficient, TEC = 18.733 ppm/°C was found at Ce0.80Gd0.20O1.90 ceramic.