Investigation of Gd, Ca and Nd tri-doped ceria for application in solid oxide fuel cells

Nanosized tri-doped ceria powders with composition Ce 0.8 Gd 0.15 Ca 0.05-x Nd x O 2-6 (CGCN, x = 0.0125, 0.025, 0.0375) were obtained by sol-gel methods. The powders were compressed into discs and sintered in air to form perspective solid electrolytes. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray di f f raction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. XRD and SEM analyses confirm that the samples are densified and have fluorite structure after sintering at 1350 degrees C. Among all Ce 0.8 Gd 0.15 Ca 0.05-x Nd x O 2-6 samples, the sintered Ce 0.8 Gd 0.15 Ca 0.025 Nd 0.025 O 2-6 electrolyte has the highest conductivity of 2.5 x 10 -2 S / cm at 800 degrees C and the corresponding activation energy is 0.64 eV.