Viscoelastic properties of doped-ceria under reduced oxygen partial pressure

The viscoelastic properties of gadolinium-doped ceria (CGO) powder compacts are characterized during sintering and cooling under reduced oxygen partial pressure and compared with conventional sintering in air. Under reducing conditions highly defective doped ceria shows peculiar viscoelastic properties due to fast mass diffusion phenomena activated at low temperatures by the reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+. In particular, the viscous behavior is affected by dramatic microstructural changes, fast grain growth and densification, which are rapidly completed during the final stage of sintering.