Electric conduction properties of boron-doped ceria

In the present study, the effect of the addition of boron on the electrical conduction properties of nanocrystalline cerium oxide (CeO₂) was investigated. Pellets consisting of pure CeO₂ and a mixture of CeO₂ and 10 mol.% of boron oxide (B-CeO₂ samples) were sintered at 800 °C as well as 1100 °C and their electrical conduction properties investigated by impedance spectroscopy at different temperatures and oxygen partial pressures. The nanocrystalline B-CeO₂ samples exhibit a higher electronic grain boundary conductivity and higher activation energy compared to a pure CeO₂ sample (1.41 eV for B-CeO₂ vs. 1.21 eV for pure CeO₂). According to electron energy-loss spectroscopy analysis, (i) boron can be detected only at the grain boundaries and (ii) cerium cations are lightly reduced at the grain boundaries. The results are consistent with both the formation of a space charge layer with a positive space charge potential but also with conduction along a glassy cerium-boron-oxide phase.