Transformation of proton-conducting Perovskite-type into fluorite-type fast oxide ion electrolytes using a CO2 capture technique and their electrical properties

Fast oxide ion conducting Ce 1- x M x O 2-delta (M = In, Sm; x = 0.1, 0.2) and Ce 0.8Sm 0.05Ca 0.15O 1.825 were prepared from the corresponding perovskite-like structured materials with nominal chemical composition of BaCe 1- x M x O 3-delta and BaCe 0.8Sm 0.05Ca 0.15O 2.825, respectively, by reacting with CO 2 at 800 degrees C for 12 h. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis showed the formation of fluorite-type CeO 2 and BaCO 3 just after reaction with CO 2. The amount of CO 2 gained per ceramic gram was found to be consistent with the Ba content. The CO 2 reacted samples were washed with dilute HCl and water, and the resultant solid product was characterized structurally and electrically employing various solid-state characterization methods, including PXRD, and alternating current (ac) impedance spectroscopy. The lattice constant of presently prepared Ce 1- x M x O 2-delta and Ce 0.8Sm 0.05Ca 0. 15O 1.825 by a CO 2 capture technique follows the expected ionic radii trend. For example, In-doped Ce 0.9In 0.1O 1.95 (In (3+) (VIII) = 0.92 A) sample showed a fluorite-type cell constant of 5.398(1) A, which is lower than the parent CeO 2 (5.411 A, Ce (4+) (VIII) = 0.97 A). Our attempt to prepare single-phase In-doped CeO 2 samples at 800, 1000, and 1500 degrees C using the ceramic method was unsuccessful. However, we were able to prepare single-phase Ce 0.9In 0.1O 1.95 and Ce 0.8In 0.2O 1.9 by the CO 2 capture method from the corresponding barium perovskites. The PXRD studies showed that the In-doped samples are thermodynamically unstable above 800 degrees C. The ac electrical conductivity studies using Pt electrodes showed the presence of bulk, grain-boundary, and electrode contributions over the investigated temperature range in the frequency range of 10 (-2)-10 (7) Hz. The bulk ionic conductivity and activation energy for the electrical conductivity of presently prepared Sm- and (Sm + Ca)-doped CeO 2 samples shows conductivities similar to those of materials prepared by the ceramic method reported in the literature. For instance, the conductivity of Ce 0.8Sm 0.2O 1.9 using the CO 2 capture technique was determined to be 4.1 x 10 (-3) S/cm, and the conductivity of the same sample prepared using the ceramic method was 3.9 x 10 (-3) S/cm at 500 degrees C. The apparent activation energy of the area-specific polarization resistance for the symmetric cell (Sm,Sr)CoO 3- x |Ce 0.8Sm 0.2O 1.9|(Sm,Sr)CoO 3- x was determined to be 1 eV in air.