Optimizing the densification of BaCe_0.2Zr_0.7Y_0.1O_3- proton conducting electrolyte using Fe₂O₃, Mn₂O₃ and ZnO sintering aids

The development of SOFCs aims to reduce the operating temperature of the cells, maintaining the same level of efficiency with protonic conduction electrolytes, as they have low activation energy. In this context, comprehending the properties of these materials and devising methods that facilitate the production of dense ceramics are crucial aspects of this research. To address these issues, we added Fe2O3, Mn2O3 and ZnO as sintering aids to investigate their influence on BaCe0.2Zr0.7Y0.1O3-delta obtained by Pechini method. The sintering occurred via liquid phase sintering, resulting in densities higher than 96%. The barium carbonate reminiscent from calcination reacted with Fe and Mn arising other phases, which were identified through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Conversely, the addition of ZnO did not result in additional phases. These unexpected phases affected directly the bulk conductivity and the activation energy for conduction.