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

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 sal-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 degrees C for 2 h, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was measured by two probe impendence spectroscopy during the temperature 400-800 degrees 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. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.