Sintering of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9

Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (SDC) powder was prepared with an oxalate coprecipitation route. SDC solid solutions were sintered at various temperatures ranging from 1100 ∼ 1450 °C, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density measurements, and electrical conductivity measurements. The optimized processing parameters for densification were to uniaxially press the sample at 200 ∼ 400 MPa and sinter it at 1350 ∼ 1400 °C for 4 h. The density of the sintered pellets was > 90% of the theoretical density; their soakage was <0.5%; and the average grain size was 1 ∼ 2 μm. The conductivities of the typical sintered specimen were 0.0133 and 0.0211 S ˙ cm−1 at 550 and 600 °C, respectively; Its activation energy for ionic conductivity was 0.62 eV. The dense SDC bulk material could be used as the electrolyte layer of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells.