Effect of transition metal oxides doping on Ce0.9Sm0.05Nd0.05O1.95 solid electrolyte materials

The effect of transition metal oxides (TMOs) CoO1.5, FeO1.5 and MnO2 addition on Ce0.9Sm0.05Nd0.05O1.95 was studied. The crystal structures, microstructures, thermal expansion and electrical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dilatometer and AC impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that the TMOs addition remarkably promotes the densification of Ce0.9Sm0.05Nd0.05O1.95 and reduces the sintering temperature by similar to 150 degrees C. The samples with TMOs addition sintered at 1450 degrees C exhibit higher conductivities than those sintered at 1500 degrees C. The maximum conductivity of 0.040 s.cm(-1) at 700 degrees C was achieved with 1 mol% FeO1.5 doping when sintered at 1450 degrees C. In addition, the thermal expansion was linear for all the samples. The doping of TMOs does not appreciably change thermal expansion coefficient.