The effect of nickel oxide as sintering aid on the densification of BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.10O2.95 electrolyte / Nurfalini Zainol

This study was conducted to study the role of nickel oxide as sintering aid on the BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.10O2.95 (BCZY) electrolyte. An electrolyte with highly dense proton conducting materials of BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.10O2.95 (BCZY) electrolyte with 4 wt% nickel oxide as sintering additive used as at intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) and have been processed via a sol-gel method. The microstructure and electrical properties of the BCZY electrolyte have been investigated under scanning electron microscope SEM and its electrical characteristic by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The microstructural characterizations of the 4NiO-BCZY electrolyte show enhanced density of the BCZY electrolyte after nickel oxide was added. The density percentage obtained for the 4NiO-BCZY electrolyte is 93%, while the original BCZY only 90% although both of the sample sintered on same conditions which at temperature 1500 °C for 5 hours. The conductivity of 4NiO-BCZY electrolyte in this study show an increases of the conductivity values due to increasing of operational temperature. The conductivity that has been measured as 8.61 x 10-2 Scm1, 7.14 x 10-2 Scm1, 3.34 x 10-2 Scm1, 1.68 x 10-2 Scm1, 9.51 x 10-3 Scm1 and 6.01 x 10-3 Scm1 at 800 °C, 750 °C, 700 °C, 650 °C, 600 °C, and 550 °C respectively.