Sintering of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9

Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9(SDC)powder was prepared with an oxalate coprecipitation route.SDC solid solutions were sintered at various temperatures ranging from 1100~1450 ℃,and characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),density measurements,and electrical conductivity measurements.The optimized processing parameters for densification were to uniaxially press the sample at 200~400 MPa and sinter it at 1350~1400 ℃ for 4 h.The density of the sintered pellets was >90% of the theoretical density;their soakage was <0.5%;and the average grain size was 1~2 μm.The conductivities of the typical sintered specimen were 0.0133 and 0.0211 S·cm-1 at 550 and 600 ℃,respectively;Its activation energy for ionic conductivity was 0.62 eV.The dense SDC bulk material could be used as the electrolyte layer of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells.