Preparation and electrochemical characterization of Er3+-doped ceria-chloride composite electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.

In this study, Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α was prepared via a microemulsion method. Then, Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α powder was mixed with melted NaCl-KCl (1:1 mol ratio) at the weight ratio of 80%: 20% to obtain Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α -KCl-NaCl at 750 °C. Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α and Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α -KCl-NaCl were characterized by thermogravimetry analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), Raman spectrometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The log (σT) ~ 1000 T-1 plots and fuel cell performances of Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α and Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α -KCl-NaCl were tested at 400–700 °C. The maximum output power density of Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α -KCl-NaCl was 187 mW cm-2 at 700 °C which is six times greater than that of Ce 0.8 Er 0.2 O 2-α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]