Dense nanophase Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ was sintered by a pulsed current activated sintering method within 6 minutes from Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ nanopowder synthesized by a co-precipitation method. Sintering was accomplished under the combined effect of a pulsed current and mechanical pressure. Highly dense Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ with a relative density of up to 97% was obtained by pulsed current activated sintering with a heating rate of 200 K·minute−1 under a pressure of 80 MPa at 1300 oC. The hardness and fracture toughness of the sample sintered at 1300 oC were about 740 kg/mm2 and 1.5MPa·m1/2, respectively. The grain boundary conductivity was relatively smaller than the grain interior conductivity.
Keywords: Pulsed current activated sintering, Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ, Nanophase, Mechanical properties, Ionic conductivity.