Fabrication and characterization of ceria-based buffer layers for solid oxide fuel cells

Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−δ (10CGO) is a promising candidate as buffer layer for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). Combustion synthesis is a suitable synthesis method for the production, at low temperatures, of fine and reactive powders for both electrodes, and CGO electrolyte. In this study, different fuels have been considered for the synthesis (urea, sucrose, citric acid) of the buffer layer based on CGO powders. These powders have been processed to obtain symmetrical cells that allow the electrochemical characterization of its interface. By means of XRD and SEM-EDX techniques, the structural, microstructural and compositional behaviour of the as-prepared powders, compacts and half-cells have been studied.