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Published September 2005 | public
Journal Article

Enhanced sintering of yttrium-doped barium zirconate by addition of ZnO

Abstract

The influence of transition metal oxides additives, especially zinc oxide, on the densification and electrical properties of doped barium zirconate have been examined. With the use of zinc oxide as a sintering aid, BaZr_(0.85)V_(0.15)O_(3-δ) was readily sintered to above 93% of theoretical density at 1300 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopic investigations showed Zn accumulation in the intergranular regions. Thermogravimetric analysis of the material under flowing CO_2 showed ZnO-modified barium zirconate to exhibit excellent chemical stability. The conductivity, as measured by A.C. impedance spectroscopy under H_2O saturated nitrogen, was slightly lower than that of unmodified barium zirconate. Electromotive force measurements under fuel cell conditions revealed the total ionic transport number to be ~0.9 at 600 degrees C. The combination of electrical and chemical properties and good sinterabifity render ZnO-modified barium zirconate an excellent candidate for reduced temperature solid oxide fuel cell applications.

Additional Information

Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons. Manuscript No. 20302. Received July 26, 2004; approved March 14, 2005. Funding for this work was provided by the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and by the Army Research Office, Chemical Science Division, through subcontract with NexTech, Inc. Additional support has been provided by the National Science Foundation, through the Caltech Center for the Science and Engineering of Materials. The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Ma Chi for his assistance with electron microscopy and chemical analysis.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 25, 2023