Characteristics of Samaria-Doped Ceria Prepared by Pechini Method

Abstract

CeO2 ceramics doped with 20 mol.% samarium (SDC-20) were prepared through the Pechini process. The samples were calcined at 400, 700 and 1000 degrees C. The sintering behavior of the calcined SDC-20 powders was also investigated at 1400 degrees C for 6 h. Microstructural and physical properties of SDC-20 samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and impedance analysis methods. The results of the thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction indicated that a single-phase fluorite structure formed at a relatively low calcination temperature of 400 degrees C. It is understood from the measured ionic conductivity values that the pellet formed from the SDC-20 samples calcined at 1000 degrees C had lower resistance of grain-boundary than those of the pellets formed from the SDC-20 samples calcined at 400 and 700 degrees C. The maximum ionic conductivity was measured as 1.95 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 800 degrees C for the sintered SDC-20 pellet obtained from SDC-20 powders calcined at 1000 degrees C.