High-temperature proton conductor Sr(Ce0.6Zr0.4)0.9Y0.1O3 − δ: Preparation, sintering and electrical properties

Sr(Ce0.6Zr0.4)0.9Y0.1O3 − δ was prepared by a wet chemical route and the stages of its formation, as well as the characterization of the resulting compounds were carried out using TG–DTA, XRD, TEM, SEM and EPMA techniques. Experimental results indicate that a calcination temperature of 900–1100 °C, which is much lower than that for the conventional solid state reaction process, is sufficient to the formation of single perovskite phase. Sr(Ce0.6Zr0.4)0.9Y0.1O3 − δ powders obtained are fine, narrowly distributed and well crystallized. This strongly improves the sinter properties and the formation of a dense Sr(Ce0.6Zr0.4)0.9Y0.1O3 − δ. Sintered at T ≥ 1350 °C, samples with density ≥97.16% of the theoretical could be obtained. In addition, the proton conductivities of Sr(Ce0.6Zr0.4)0.9Y0.1O3 − δ ceramic were measured by impedance spectroscopy in 5% H2/Ar and the evolution of the spectra with increasing temperature was analyzed.