Sinterability and electrical properties of ZnO-doped Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 electrolytes prepared by an EDTA–citrate complexing method

The effect of ZnO addition on the sinterability and ionic conductivity of Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 is investigated. Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 is prepared using an EDTA–citrate complexing method in order to further improve its electrical properties. Using a ZnO content over 1 mol %, the sinterability of Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 is significantly improved by reducing the sintering temperature from 1500 to 1350 °C and a relative density of above 95% was achieved. The highest ionic conductivity of 0.0516 S cm−1 was obtained at 750 °C for (YDC)0.99(ZnO)0.01 sintered at 1350 °C. Pure YDC sintered at 1500 °C, on the other hand, yielded 0.0289 S cm−1.

Research highlights▶ The sinterability and electrical properties of ZnO-doping Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 electrolytes prepared by EDTA–citrate complexing method for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) were investigated. ▶ It was found that an appropriate amount of ZnO can not only improve the sinterability but also improve the ionic conductivity of Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 electrolyte. ▶ With the ZnO content over 1 mol %, the sinterability of the as-sintered Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9 was improved significantly by reducing the sintering temperature from 1500 °C to 1350 °C, and the relative density above 95% was achieved. ▶ Experimental results exhibit that the ionic conductivity for (Ce0.8Y0.2O1.9)0.99(ZnO)0.01 specimen was 0.0516 S cm−1 at 750 °C, it attained the optimum conductivity in this study.