Effect of titania concentration on the grain boundary conductivity of calcium-doped ceria electrolyte

A solid-state technique was used to synthesize ceria-based (CDC−xT, in which x=0–1 mol%) solid electrolyte ceramics. The effects of doping the ceramic solid electrolyte (CDC) with titanium oxide were studied with regard to densification, crystal structure, morphology, electro-impedance spectroscopy and fuel cell performance. TiO2 doping afforded materials a 95% relative density at 940 °C, approximately 200 °C lower than the temperature required without titanium oxide. The addition of titanium oxide (TiO2) reduced the CDC sintering temperature and significantly improved the grain boundary conduction. The minimum grain boundary resistivity was obtained at 0.8 mol% TiO2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the lattice parameters enhanced with increased titanium oxide concentrations up to 0.8 mol%, revealing the solubility limit for Caria׳s fluorite structure. The optimum doping level (0.8 mol%) is provided maximum conductivity. Conductivities were measured using EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) with a two-probe method, and the activation energies were calculated using the Arrhenius plots. The maximum power density (660 mW/cm2) was achieved with CDC−0.8T electrolyte at 650 °C using LiCuZnNi oxide electrodes.