Effect of Gd and Ti co-doping on electrical performance of Bi2O3 oxygen ion conductor

In this study, a new oxygen ion conductor electrolyte material with high conductivity was reported. Bi2O3 was co-doped with Gd2O3 and TiO2 by solid-phase synthesis method to obtain Bi1-3xGd2xTixO1.5+δ and Bi0.76Gd0.18-xTixO1.5+δ (TGSB) ceramics. The phase composition, surface morphology and electrical properties of TGSB samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and AC impedance respectively. XRD results show that only 6T12GSB has a single cubic fluorite structure, and impurity phases appear in other samples. The SEM results show that only when the doping concentrations of Gd and Ti are 12 mol.% and 6 mol.% respectively, the particle size is relatively smaller and there are no obvious pores. From the analysis of electrical properties, Gd dopant is helpful to the stability of the Bi2O3 phase than Ti dopant, but not beneficial to higher conductivity. When the doping concentration of Gd is higher than 16 mol.%, it becomes more stable. The conductivity of the 6T12GSB sample is relatively high. The conductivity of the TGSB samples is higher than that of the TLSB samples under the lower temperature condition (< 450 °C), and the electrical performance of Bi2O3-based materials are enhanced especially at low temperature.

Sillén-Aurivillius phase bismuth niobium oxychloride, Bi4NbO8Cl, as a New Oxide Ion Conductor

Sillén-Aurivillius phase Bi4NbO8Cl consists of Bi2O22+/NbO43-/Bi2O22+/Cl- layers and the partial substitution of Bi was successfully performed by Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, La3+, Ga3+ and Sn4+. It was found that substitution with...

Recent Advances in High Temperature Electrolysis Cells using LaGaO3-based Electrolyte

High temperature electrolysis is a promising option for carbon-free hydrogen production and huge energy storage with high energy conversion efficiencies from renewable and nuclear resources. Over the past few decades, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) based ion conductor has been widely used as a solid electrolyte in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). However, its high operation temperature and lower conductivity in the appropriate temperature range for solid electrochemical devices were major drawbacks. Regarding improving ionic-conducting electrolytes, several groups have contributed significantly to developing and applying LaGaO3 based perovskite as a superior ionic conductor. La(Sr)Ga(Mg)O3 (LSGM) electrolyte was successfully validated for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) but was rarely conducted on SOECs for its high efficient electrolysis performance. Their lower mechanical strengths or higher reactivity with electrode compared with the YSZ electrolysis cells, which make it difficult to choose compatible materials, remain major challenges. In this field, SOECs have attracted a great attention in the last few years, as they offer significant power and higher efficiencies compared to conventional YSZ based electrolysers. Herein, SOECs using LSGM based electrolyte, their applications, high performance, and their issues will be reviewed.

Recent Advances in High Temperature Electrolysis Cells using LaGaO3-based Electrolyte

High temperature electrolysis is a promising option for carbon-free hydrogen production and huge energy storage with high energy conversion efficiencies from renewable and nuclear resources. Over the past few decades, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) based ion conductor has been widely used as a solid electrolyte in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). However, its high operation temperature and lower conductivity in the appropriate temperature range for solid electrochemical devices were major drawbacks. Regarding improving ionic-conducting electrolytes, several groups have contributed significantly to developing and applying LaGaO3 based perovskite as a superior ionic conductor. La(Sr)Ga(Mg)O3 (LSGM) electrolyte was successfully validated for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) but was rarely conducted on SOECs for its high efficient electrolysis performance. Their lower mechanical strengths or higher reactivity with electrode compared with the YSZ electrolysis cells, which make it difficult to choose compatible materials, remain major challenges. In this field, SOECs have attracted a great attention in the last few years, as they offer significant power and higher efficiencies compared to conventional YSZ based electrolysers. Herein, SOECs using LSGM based electrolyte, their applications, high performance, and their issues will be reviewed.

The Role of Sintering Temperature and Dual Metal Substitutions (Al3+, Ti4+) in the Development of NASICON-Structured Electrolyte

The aim of this study is to synthesize Li1+xAlxTixSn2−2x(PO4) sodium super ion conductor (NASICON) -based ceramic solid electrolyte and to study the effect of dual metal substitution on the electrical and structural properties of the electrolyte. The performance of the electrolyte is analyzed based on the sintering temperature (550 to 950 °C) as well as the composition. The trend of XRD results reveals the presence of impurities in the sample, and from Rietveld Refinement, the purest sample is achieved at a sintering temperature of 950 °C and when x = 0.6. The electrolytes obey Vegard′s Law as the addition of Al3+ and Ti4+ provide linear relation with cell volume, which signifies a random distribution. The different composition has a different optimum sintering temperature at which the highest conductivity is achieved when the sample is sintered at 650 °C and x = 0.4. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis showed that higher sintering temperature promotes the increment of grain boundaries and size. Based on energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, x = 0.4 produced the closest atomic percentage ratio to the theoretical value. Electrode polarization is found to be at maximum when x = 0.4, which is determined from dielectric analysis. The electrolytes follow non-Debye behavior as it shows a variety of relaxation times.