Influence of Low Sintering Temperature on BaCe0.2Zr0.6Y0.2O3-δ IT-SOFC Perovskite Electrolyte Synthesized by Co-Precipitation Method

Muhammad Rafique; Neelam Safdar; Muneeb Irshad; Muhammad Usman; Maaz Akhtar; Muhammad Wajid Saleem; Muhammad Mujtaba Abbas; Ahmed Ashour; Manzoore Elahi Soudagar

doi:10.3390/ma15103585

Influence of Low Sintering Temperature on BaCe_0.2Zr_0.6Y_0.2O_3-δ IT-SOFC Perovskite Electrolyte Synthesized by Co-Precipitation Method

Materials (Basel). 2022 May 17;15(10):3585. doi: 10.3390/ma15103585.

Authors

Muhammad Rafique¹, Neelam Safdar², Muneeb Irshad³, Muhammad Usman⁴, Maaz Akhtar⁵, Muhammad Wajid Saleem⁶, Muhammad Mujtaba Abbas⁷, Ahmed Ashour⁸, Manzoore Elahi Soudagar⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics, University of Sahiwal, Sahiwal 57000, Pakistan.
² Department of Physics, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan.
³ Department of Physics, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan.
⁵ Mechanical Engineering Department, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
⁶ Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, College of Engineering, Dhofar University, Salalah 211, Oman.
⁷ Department of Mechanical Engineering, New Campus, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 39021, Pakistan.
⁸ Engineering Mathematics and Physics Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo 11845, Egypt.
⁹ Department of Mechanical Engineering and University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India.

Abstract

BaCe0.2Zr0.6Y0.2O3−δ (BCZY) perovskite electrolytes were synthesized for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell with a cost-effective and versatile co-precipitation method. The synthesized BCZY electrolytes were sintered at 900, 1000, and 1100 °C to observe the effects of low sintering temperature on the structural, morphological, thermal, and electrical properties of BCZY. All BCZY electrolytes materials exhibited a crystalline perovskite structure and were found to be thermally stable. The crystallinity and conductivity of BCZY electrolyte enhanced with increased sintering temperature, due to the grain growth. At the same time, secondary phases of carbonates were also observed for samples sintered at a temperature lower than 1100 °C. The BCZY sintered at 1100 °C exhibited a density >95%, and a power density of 350 mWcm−2 with open-circuit voltage 1.02 V at 650 °C was observed due its dense and airtight structure. Based on the current investigation, we suggest that the BaCe0.2Zr0.6Y0.2O3−δ perovskite electrolyte sintered at a temperature of 1100 °C is a suitable electrolyte for IT-SOFC.

Keywords: BCZY; co-precipitation; electrolyte; perovskite.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.