ZrO2-based Nanopowders for Fuel Cells and Catalysis

The work compares ceramic materials based on ZrO2 co-stabilized with 8 mol. % of CeO2 and 2 mol. % of Y 2O3 (8Ce2YSZ) and stabilized with 3 or 8 mol. % of Y 2O3 (3YSZ and 8YSZ). Both hydrothermal and co-precipitation approaches were used for powder preparation. The formation of a tetragonal structure with 6–8 % residual porosity and enhanced biaxial bending strength was observed for the 8Ce2YSZ samples. The 8YSZ and 3YSZ samples have cubic and tetragonal/monoclinic phases, respectively, with about 1% porosity and smaller strength values. The specific electrical conductivity of 8Ce2YSZ and 8YSZ is 1.1·10-3, 4·10-3, 1.2· 10⁻² S/cm and 5.2 · 10⁻³, 2.7· 10⁻², 9.3· 10⁻² S/cm at 600, 700, 800 °C, respectively. The 8Ce2YSZ material developed is promising to be used in SOFC carrier anode layer due to higher mechanical strength comparing with 8YSZ. Moreover, the presence of cerium may improve the efficiency of anode electrode due to additional electronic conductivity, and better branching of the anode reaction zone.