Properties of Al2O3-Sm2O3-CeO2 electrolyte

Ce1-xSmxO2 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) and Sm-doped ceria+(2%-8%)Al2O3 were synthesized through sol-gel process followed by low temperature combustion. The synthesis, structure, densification, conductivity and thermal expansion were studied, and the structure and phase were confirmed by XRD. Dense ceramics were obtained through sintering the pellets at 1300 °C. 2% and 4% Al2O3 were added into Ce0.8Sm0.2O2 to promote the densification at 1250 °C. The surface morphology of the sintered pellets was analyzed using SEM. A two-probe AC impedance spectroscopy was used to study the total ionic conductivity.