Synthesis and electrical properties of Ce1−xGdxO2−x/2 (x = 0.05–0.3) solid solutions prepared by a citrate–nitrate combustion method

Ce1−xGdxO2−x/2 (GDC) powders with different Gd3+ contents (x = 0.05–0.3) were prepared by a simple citrate–nitrate combustion method. The influence of the Gd3+ doping content on the crystal structure and the electrical properties of GDC were examined. Many analysis techniques such as thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy and AC impedance analysis were employed to characterize the GDC powders. The crystallization of the GDC solid solution occurred below 350 °C. The GDC powders calcined at 800 °C showed a typical cubic fluorite structure. The lattice parameter of GDC exhibited a linear relationship with the Gd3+ content. As compared with that sintered at other temperatures, the GDC pellet that sintered at 1300 °C had a high relative density of 97%, and showed finer microstructure. The conductivity of GDC was firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of the Gd3+ content. The sintered GDC sample with the Gd3+ content of 0.25 exhibited the highest conductivity of 1.27 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 600 °C.