Effect Of The Gadolinium Oxide Addition On The Electrical Properties Of Tetragonal Zirconium Dioxide

Abstract

The aim of this work was examination of gadolinium-doped 3YSZ electrical and structural properties. Such materials may be used as electrolytes in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). First step of the research was synthesis of 3YSZ with different contents of gadolinium (0.25; 0.5; 1.0 at %). Prepared materials were characterized by high porosity. No effect of gadolinium addition on grain size was observed. The experimentally determined values of grain interiors electrical conductivities for gadolinium doped samples are comparable to grain interior conductivities of gadolinium free tetragonal zirconia. On the other hand, a clear effect of gadolinium addition on electrical conductivity of grain boundaries was observed. It was found that 3YSZ containing 0.25 at. % Gd was the most promising from the investigated materials as a solid electrolyte for IT SOFC.

Keywords

• Gadolinium (III) oxide
• tetragonal zirconia
• electrical properties
• grain boundary conductivity