Synthesis and properties of samaria-doped ceria electrolyte via ultrasound–microwave assisted sol–gel method

Abstract

Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) as an important electrolyte and raw material of electrode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) was synthesized via ultrasound and microwave assisted sol–gel method (UMSG). The morphology and microstructure of the as-prepared SDC powders were characterized by Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that the as-prepared SDC powders had smaller nano-sized grain in comparison with SDC powders obtained by the conventional heating (CH). After the pellets sintered at 1400°C for 2h, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was measured by two probe impendence spectroscopy during the temperature 400–800°C in air. The sample prepared using the UMSG exhibited higher ionic conductivities and lower activation energies than the sample synthesized by the CH method over the entire investigated temperature range.