BaZr0.2Ce0.8−xYxO3−δ solid oxide fuel cell electrolyte synthesized by sol–gel combined with composition-exchange method

This study reports the synthesis of proton-conducting BaZr0.2Ce0.8−xYxO3−δ (x = 0–0.4) oxides by using a combination of citrate-EDTA complexing sol–gel process and composition-exchange method. Compared to those oxides prepared from conventional sol–gel powders, the sintered BaZr0.2Ce0.8−xYxO3−δ pellets synthesized by sol–gel combined with composition-exchange method are found to exhibit improved sinterability, a higher relative density, higher conduction, and excellent thermodynamic stability against CO2. Moreover, the Pt/electrolyte/Pt single cell using such a BaZr0.2Ce0.6Y0.2O3−δ electrolyte shows an obviously higher maximum powder density in the hydrogen-air fuel cell experiments. Based on the experimental results, we discuss the improvement mechanism in terms of calcined particle characteristics. This work demonstrates that the BaZr0.2Ce0.8−xYxO3−δ oxides synthesized by sol–gel combined with composition-exchange method would be a promising electrolyte for the use in H+-SOFC applications. More importantly, this new fabrication approach could be applied to other similar ABO3-perovskite material systems.