Improved structural stability and electrochemical performance of 8YSZ electrolyte by MxOy doping for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs)

The role of nanosized metallic oxides (MxOy) in phase stability, thermal behavior and electrical conductivity of 8 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) has been investigated. 8YSZ co-doped with 4 mol% MxOy (YSZ-MxOy) powders have been elaborated by solid state reaction at 1500 °C during 12 h. The ionic conductivity of 8YSZ has been improved by adding CeO2, ZnO or their mixture CeO2-ZnO as nanosized stabilizers for ZrO2 matrix in the temperature field from 400 °C to 600 °C. Finally, the performance evaluation of 200 μm thick film YSZ-MxOy as electrolyte for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) has been discussed. The open circuit voltage has been 1.03 V and the maximum power density has been 440 mW·cm−2 at 600 °C, in the presence of 3.5 mol% CeO2, 0.5 mol% ZnO and 8 mol% Y2O3 co-doped zirconia.