A systematic study on the synthesis of Ca, Gd codoped cerium oxide by combustion method

Co-doped of CeO2 nanopowders are ideal electrolyte materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. In this work, Ce1−(x+y)GdxCayO2−(0.5x+y) nanopowders are successfully synthesized by a glycine–nitrate combustion process. Then calcination was carried out at 450, 700, 850, 950 and we found that calcined powders were single phase by room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and have an average crystallite size of 45 nm (based on Scherrer formula). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to characterize the morphology of powder. Finally we studied the effect of fuel to nitrate ratio on the properties of resulting powders.

Research highlights▶ Ca, Gd codoped ceria nanopowders are synthesized by a glycine–nitrate combustion process. ▶ The calculated crystallite size by Scherrer method is 45 nm. ▶ This solid solution is limited up to 15 mol% of Ca under the investigated temperature. ▶ Must energy is obtained trough combustion with deficient fuel ratio. ▶ A single phase of doped ceria was formed trough calcinations at 850 °C.