Preparation and evaluation of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ (BZCYYb) electrolyte and BZCYYb-based solid oxide fuel cells

BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-delta (BZCYYb) electrolyte powders are prepared by ammonium carbonate coprecipitation. Crystalline fine powders with a pure perovskite phase are obtained by the calcination of the precursor powders at 1000 degrees C. The relative densities of the sample pellets sintered at 1400 and 1500 degrees C for 5 h are 96.5 and 97.9% (% of theoretical), respectively. The electrical conductivities of the BZCYYb electrolytes exhibit high values of 1.9 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 500 degrees C and 7.4 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 750 degrees C with an activation energy of 0.45 eV. An anode-supported cell is also fabricated from the synthesized BZCYYb electrolyte using spin coating. A dense, crack-free 10-mu m-thick electrolyte film has been successfully fabricated. The fabricated single cell exhibits promising performance, with maximum power densities of 1.0 W cm(-2) at 750 degrees C and 0.23 W cm(-2) at 500 degrees C. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.