Synthesis, microstructure and electrical properties of BaZr0.9Y0.1O3−δ:BaCe0.86Y0.1Zn0.04O3−δ proton conductors

•BZY:BCYZn composites electrolyte were synthesized by a gel polymerization and ball milling method.•The maximum relative density of BZY with 90 wt.% BCYZn addition reaches 98.9%.•The conductivity of 10BZY:90BCYZn reaches 7.4 ms/cm at 600 °C in moist Ar.

BaZr0.9Y0.1O3−δ (BZY):BaCe0.86Y0.1Zn0.04O3−δ (BCYZn) proton conductors were synthesized by a gel polymerization and ball milling method. XRD results show that the phases of Y doped BaZrO3 and Y and Zn co-doped BaCeO3 were identified for the composite electrolytes calcined at 1000 °C for 3 h. After sintering at 1350 °C for 5 h, only one phase is observed by XRD, which suggests the formation of BaZrO3–BaCeO3 solid solution. The relative density and conductivity of samples increase with increasing BCYZn content. The total conductivity reaches 7.4 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 600 °C under moist Ar, and it can be used as a proton-conducting electrolyte for the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells.