Structural analysis, phase stability and electrochemical characterization of Nb doped BaCe0.9Y0.1O3−x electrolyte for IT-SOFCs

Abstract To improve the chemical stability of high temperature proton conductors based on barium cerate, electrolyte powders doped with different amounts of niobium were synthesized by the citrate–nitrate auto-combustion method. Pure single phases of BaCe 0.9− x Nb x Y 0.1 O 3− x (BCYN, 0.03 ≤  x  ≤ 0.12) were obtained by thermal treatment at 1000 °C. Sintering at 1450 °C for 10 h produced dense pellets. X-ray absorption spectroscopy allowed to define the dopant ion insertion site and the co-dopant valency. Treatments in pure CO 2 atmosphere at 700 °C for 3 h and subsequent XRD analysis were carried out to probe the chemical stability of the produced electrolytes. The influence of the prese…