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Investigations on acceptor (Pr3+) and donor (Nb5+) doped cerium oxide for the suitability of solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes

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Abstract

Nanocrystalline acceptor (Pr3+) and donor (Nb5+) doped cerium oxide are synthesized by sol-gel method via hydrolysis process and evaluated for the suitability of applying as an electrolyte for the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. Phase purity and crystallite size of the synthesized materials are ascertained by powder X-ray diffraction studies. Introduction of Pr3+ ions in the cerium lattice exhibited a lower crystallite size than the Nb5+, which exposes the probability to attain high oxide ion conductivity of Pr3+ doped cerium oxide. Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra confirm the functional groups and formation of Pr3+ and Nb5+ ions in the cerium lattice. Absorbance spectra exhibit the charge-transfer transition from O2− (2p) to Ce4+ (4f) orbital in cerium oxide. Pr3+ and Nb5+ ions doped cerium lattice create the oxygen vacancies and favor the formation of Ce3+ from Ce4+. Valence band transition of Ce3+ ions from the 5d to 4f levels are examined by photoluminescence studies. The morphological features of Ce-Pr-O and Ce-Nb-O are investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to analyze the conductivity properties of solid electrolytes. Ce-Pr-O shows the high oxide ion conductivity of 0.1 S/cm at 600 °C with an activation energy of 0.73 eV. Electrolytes with specific conductivities higher than 10−2 S/cm at intermediate temperatures (∼400–600 °C) are required for solid oxide fuel cells to operate with less maintenance. Hence, Ce-Pr-O can be a suitable electrolyte material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells.

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Acknowledgments

One of the authors (K. Amarsingh Bhabu) is grateful to the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, for the award of research fellowship under the UGC-SAP-Basic Science Research Program. Authors also thank Mr. M. Veera Gajendra Babu, Research Scholar, Department of Physics, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, for his valid discussions regarding Rietveld Refinement Studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, 627 012, India

    K. Amarsingh Bhabu

  2. Solar Energy Lab, Department of Chemistry, Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, Tamilnadu, 632 115, India

    J. Theerthagiri & J. Madhavan

  3. Department of Physics, Aditanar college of Arts and Science, Tiruchendur, Tamilnadu, 628 216, India

    T. Balu

  4. Department of Physics and Renewable Energy Science, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, 627 012, India

    T. R Rajasekaran

  5. Centre for Ionics University of Malaya, Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    A. K. Arof

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  1. K. Amarsingh Bhabu
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Correspondence to T. R Rajasekaran.

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Bhabu, K.A., Theerthagiri, J., Madhavan, J. et al. Investigations on acceptor (Pr3+) and donor (Nb5+) doped cerium oxide for the suitability of solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes. Ionics 22, 2461–2470 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1780-4

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