Influence of Y-substitution on phase composition and proton uptake of self-generated Ba(Ce,Fe)O3-delta-Ba(Fe,Ce)O3-delta composites

Self-generated composites from the series BaCe1-(x+z)FexYzO3-delta with z = 0.2 for 0.1 <= x <= 0.6 and z = 0 for Ce : Fe = 1 were obtained by one-pot synthesis. The composites consist of proton and electron conducting phases and are interesting as electrode materials for protonic ceramic fuel and electrolyser cells. X-ray diffraction with quantitative phase analysis and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the materials consist of Fe-rich phases and a Ce-rich perovskite phase, which are present in the corresponding proportion depending on the precursor composition (Ce-Fe ratio). Substitution with Y leads to a narrowing of the miscibility gap compared to BaCe1-xFexO3-delta composites, thus favouring transformation of the composites into single cubic phases at temperatures above 1000 degrees C. Further, Y influences the mutual solubility of Fe3+/4+ and Ce4+ in the Ce-rich and Fe-rich phase, respectively, as shown elemental mapping via scanning transmission electron microscopy. As only a small proportion of the Y dissolves in the electrolyte-type phase, the increased proton uptake resulting from the incorporation of Y in the Ce-rich phase is limited. Strategies to overcome this limitation by substitution with ions with similar ionic radii, but different basicity, are discussed.