Development of mixed conducting dense nickel/Ca-doped lanthanum zirconate cermet for gas separation application

La1.95Ca0.05Zr2O7-δ (LCZ) and Ni–LCZ cermet have been prepared by combustion synthesis and conventional solid state mixing methods respectively. Both the materials are sintered in air and controlled atmosphere (5% H2 in Ar). The density obtained for the material sintered at 1400 °C in controlled atmosphere is found to be more than 99.5%. This sintering temperature (1400 °C) is considered to be much lower compared to the conventional sintering temperature. The corresponding total conductivity for such Ni–LCZ cermet materials is ∼400 S/cm measured at 750 °C having 40 vol% of Ni and 60 vol% LCZ.

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► Phase pure La1.95Ca0.05Zr2O7-δ (LCZ) material is prepared by combustion synthesis.
► LCZ and Ni-LCZ bulk samples are prepared with theoretical density close to 100%.
► Bulk electrical conductivity ∼400 S/cm is obtained for Ni–LCZ cermet at 750 °C.