Fabrication and microstructure of directionally solidified SrCe1 − xYxO3 − δ (x = 0.1, 0.2) high temperature proton conductors

SrCe1 − xYxO3 − δ (x = 0.1, 0.2) high temperature proton conductors (HTPC) have been fabricated by directional solidification using a laser-heated float zone (LHFZ) method. The resulting microstructures have been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The LHFZ method produces a cellular microstructure consisting of crystalline cells embedded in an amorphous matrix, showing a strong biaxial texture. EBSD studies show that all the crystalline cells have their <0 0 1> axis as described in the cubic Pm3m prototype unit cell parallel to the growth direction. The observed microstructural features are explained in terms of the fabrication process.