Articles
  • Synthesis and characterization of Gd3+ and Sm3+ ion doped ceria electrolytes through an in-situ sulphated combustion technique
  • R.V. Mangalarajaa,*, S. Ananthakumarb, Kasimayan Umac, Romel M. Jiménezd, S.Uthayakumare, Marta Lópeza and Carlos P. Camurria
  • aDepartment of Materials Engineering, University of Concepción, Concepción, CHILE bMaterials and Minerals Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, INDIA cDepartment of Environmental Technology and Urban Planning, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, JAPAN dDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Concepción, Concepcíon, CHILE eDepartment of Physics, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UNITED KINGDOM
Abstract
An in-situ sulphated-combustion synthesis is reported to obtain gadolinium [Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95] and samarium [Ce0.9Sm0.1O1.95] doped ceria electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Nitrate precursors of cerium, gadolinium and samarium reactants were mixed homogenously with a citric acid fuel with an in-situ addition of 10 and 20 mol% ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4]. The mixture was combusted at 500 oC and subsequently calcined at 700 oC. The influence of the sulphate addition on the morphology of ceria particles has been analyzed. It is seen that the in-situ SO4 2- ions highly favors the nucleation and growth of doped ceria electrolytes on a nanometer scale with an added advantage of improved crystallinity. TEM analysis indicates loosely agglomerated and nearly spherically shaped ceria nano particles with a maximum particle size of 20 nm.

Keywords: Combustion, Sulphate ion, Nano ceria, Electrolyte

This Article

  • 2012; 13(1): 15-22

    Published on Feb 28, 2012

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