Nanoparticle manufacturing of co-doped cerium gadolinium oxide electrolyte

Researcher: Sri Rahayu

Principal Invesigator: Dr Girish M. Kale

Co-Investigator(s): Prof. Mojtaba Ghadiri

Project Sponsor(s): Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia

Status: Ongoing (2019 - present)

Abstract

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) use ceramic membranes for the conduction of ions at temperatures above 600˚C. This technology is classified by operation temperature, viz., intermediate-temperature (600 – 800˚C) and high-temperature (850 – 1000˚C) SOFCs. The high-temperature operation has certain disadvantages such as degradation of materials and high operating cost. However, performance in the intermediate temperature region drops rapidly due to the increasing resistance of electrolyte and electrodes. This research focuses on the development of the electrolyte material for an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) with high ionic conductivity. A ceria-based electrolyte is most commonly used as the electrolyte in IT-SOFCs (intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells) because of its high ionic conductivity. The aim of this research is primarily to develop ceria-based nanomaterial composites with co-doped material as the electrolyte for intermediate-temperature SOFC (IT-SOFC). A novel sol-gel based method using sodium alginate in the form of beads or granules is used to prepare the nanoparticle complex metal oxides. These methods produce cubic single-phase nanoparticle of doped and co-doped cerium oxide (Ce0.8X0.2-yGdyO1.9; X = Dy, Ho, Er; 0 ≤ Y ≤0.2). The specific objectives are: (i) to form homogeneous nanoparticles of cerium-gadolinium oxide (CGO) using the novel synthesis route and optimize the process; (ii) to use the co-doped materials with different rear earth elements (dysprosium, holmium, and erbium) and control the dopant concentration; (iii) to investigate the material characteristics of nanoparticles; (iv) to compare the results with those reported in the literature for cerium-gadolinium oxide (CGO) and cerium-gadolinium oxide (CGO) co-doped other elements; (v) to propose the optimal sintering temperature route of doped and co-doped cerium oxide; )vi) to understand the crystallographic features of co-doped materials, especially at the operating temperature of SOFCs; (vii) to investigate the electrical properties of electrolyte for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs).

Publications:

74. Rahayu, J.S. Forrester, G.M. Kale, M. Ghadiri,Promising solid electrolyte material for an IT-SOFC: Crystal structure of the cerium gadolinium holmium oxide Ce₀.₈Gd₀.₁Ho₀.₁O₁.₉ between 295 and 1023 K.Acta Crystallographica Section C: Structural Chemistry, 2018, 236-239 74.2