Yb-doped BaCeO3 and its composite electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

BaCe0.9Yb0.1O3-α was prepared via the sol-gel method using zirconium nitrate, ytterbium trioxide, cerium nitrate and barium acetate as raw materials. Subsequently, it reacted with the binary NaCl~KCl salt to obtain BaCe0.9Yb0.1O3-α-NaCl~KCl composite electrolyte. The structure, morphology, conductivity and fuel cell performance of the obtained samples were investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that BaCe0.9Yb0.1O3-α and NaCl~KCl combined with each other to form a homogeneous 3-D reticulated structure. The highest power density and conductivity of BaCe0.9Yb0.1O3-α-NaCl~KCl was 393 mW·cm-2and 3.0 × 10-1 S·cm--1t 700 °, respectively.