Sintering and electrical properties of Ce1−xBixO2−δ solid solution

Solid solution Ce1−xBixO2−δ nanopowders with the composition of x = 0.1-0.5 were synthesized by using Self Propagating Room Temperature procedure (SPRT). The results obtained by XRPD show that synthesized samples were single-phase solid solution at room temperature. Powders were densified by using Conventional (CS) and Microwave (MS) Sintering techniques at different temperatures, in an air atmosphere for 1 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and complex impedance method measurements were carried out on sintered samples. Maximum achieved density was for sample with Ce0.80Bi0.20O2−δ composition for both applied sintering techniques. The highest conductivity was obtained for the ceramic composition Ce0.80Bi0.20O2−δ sintered by microwave technique at 700 °C.