Effect of V2O5 doping on microstructure and electrical properties of Bi2O3–TiO2 solid oxide electrolyte system

V2O5 in the Bi2O3–TiO2 system (14BTO) is used as an electrolyte material for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. Material characterization and electrical behavior of 10VO, and 25VO, 50VO molar (mol%) ratio doped 14BTO specimens were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and two-probe DC conductivity measurement method. The XRD results show that cubic sillenite single phase (Bi12TiO20) is observed in the 14BTO-10VO and 14BTO-25VO specimens and two phases (Bi12TiO20 and Bi4V15Ti0.5O10.85) in the 14BTO-50VO specimen. In situ and batch-type long-term conductivity measurements at 600 °C were conducted to verify the possible reason of degradation which may have occurred in the 14BTO samples in this study.