The Influence of ZnO Sintering Aid on Properties of BaZr_1-xY_xO_3-δ Proton-Conducting Electrolyte

Abstract:

The influence of ZnO sintering aid on the structure, morphology and electrical properties of BaZr1-xYxO3-δ proton-conducting electrolyte is presented. XRD showed that all the samples mainly consisted of single-phase cubic perovskite structure. Except for BaZrO3+ 1wt% ZnO, other samples show a peak arising from a small amount of Y2O3 impurity. SEM analysis showed that all the materials have a very dense structure after being sintered at 1300 oC with ZnO sintering aid. For densified BaZr1-xYxO3-δ+ 1wt% ZnO system the ZnO addition did not lead to increase the grain size. The change of the crystal structure of BaZr1-xYxO3-δ + 1wt% ZnO system with the content of doped yttrium was investigated. The lattice parameter and unit cell volume increased sharply at x<0.2, but it was maximal and almost constant at x≥0.2. The impedance spectra for BaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ + 1wt% ZnO sample at three different temperatures were compared. With increasing temperature the resistance for mass transfer at the electrolyte-electrode interface was reduced markedly compared to that of the grain boundary.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 591)
• Pages: 249-252
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.591.249
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Cheng Peng, Yi Xiong Zheng
• Keywords: Proton Conductor, Sintering, Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), Yttrium-Doped Barium Zirconate

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