Ceria-doped scandia-stabilized zirconia (10Sc2O3·1CeO2·89ZrO2) as electrolyte for SOFCs: Sintering and ionic conductivity of thin, flat sheets

Abstract

In this study, thin, flat sheets, about 90 μm thick, were prepared from ceria-doped scandia-stabilized zirconia with molecular formula 10Sc2O3·1CeO2·89 ZrO2 (10Sc1CeSZ) by tape casting and subsequent sintering at different thermal cycles. A sintering thermal cycle was selected that yielded defect-free flat sheets, with practically negligible porosity (between 0.35% and 0.10%) and average grain diameters ranging from 1.32 to 6.30 μm. Ionic conductivity at 600°C was as high as 21 mS/cm. Ionic conductivity increased with average grain diameters up to 2.7 μm. At higher average grain diameters, conductivity remained practically constant.