Preparation and properties of Y3+ and Ca2+ co-doped ceria electrolyte materials for ITSOFC

Y3+ and Ca2+ co-doped Ce0.8+xY0.2−2xCaxO1.9 (x = 0–0.1) electrolyte powders for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells were prepared by a low-temperature combustion synthesis method. The burnt powders had good sinterability and the relative densities of these sintered bodies were over 95% at 1350 °C for 4 h. The electrical property of Ce0.8+xY0.2−2xCaxO1.9 was studied by the impedance spectra analysis in the temperature range of 300–700 °C. The results displayed that the conductivity of the co-doped electrolytes was higher and the activation energy was lower compared with the singly doped ceria with the same oxygen vacancy concentration. The grain and the grain boundary conductivity of Ce0.8+xY0.2−2xCaxO1.9 (x = 0–0.1) electrolytes increased firstly and then decreased with increasing the Ca2+ concentration. The influence co-doping on the electrical properties of the grain boundary was more apparent than that on the electrical properties of the grain. The influence mechanism of co-doping on the electrical properties of the grain and grain boundary was analyzed.

Graphical abstractY3+ and Ca2+ co-doped ceria electrolyte powders were synthesized by the low-temperature combustion synthesis method. The electrical property of Ce0.8+xY0.2−2xCaxO1.9 was studied by the impedance spectra analysis in the temperature range of 300–700 °C and the mechanism was analyzed.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide