BaCe1-x-yZrxYyO3-d Protonic Conductor for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs)

Proton conductors BaCe0.8-xZrxY0.2O3-δ were synthesized by a wet chemistry process to obtain powders with controlled compositional homogeneity and purity at low processing temperatures. The synthesized powders were calcined at different temperatures, depending on Zr-content (x). To investigate the chemical stability, the calcined powders were exposed to CO2 and the phase analysis was performed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Dense electrolytes were obtained pressing the calcined powders into cylindrical pellets and then sintering in the temperature range 1500-1600°C, depending on Zr-content. Electrical conductivity of the sintered pellets was measured as a function of temperature and Zr-content by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)