Composite Electrolyte of SOFC Based on Stabilized Zirconia 1Yb10ScSZ Nanopowder

Abstract

An electrolyte composite of 1Yb10ScSZ made of ZrOCl2.8H2O, Yb2O3 and Sc2O3 precursors has been investigated as solid electrolyte for SOFC. As first step, nano powders of 1Yb10ScSZ were synthesized using sol-gel and precipitation method towards water as medium employing l-arginine as organic substance to initiate the reaction. Subsequently, it was followed by calcinations with temperature variations of 600, 650 and 700°C to obtain a proper phase and particle size. Nano powders produced were cold-pressed utilizing 100 MPa of pressure and sintered at 1350°C of temperature to achieve solid electrolyte of 1Yb10ScSZ. The results of DLS and FESEM analysis of nano powders obtained from sol-gel method showed that the variations of calcinations temperature didn’t influence the particle size produced. Whereas DLS and FESEM analysis of nano powders made by precipitation method indicated that it affected size of particle. The microstructure analysis using FESEM revealed that precipitation method produced spherical structure with 10-30 nm of particle size. Porosity measurement employing Archimedes method exhibited density of pellet over 95%. The results of this study have met the necessary requirements as exceptional electrolyte for SOFC.