Industrial Ceria-Based Powders for Solid Electrolyte Applications in SOFC: Physical-Chemical Characterization and Properties

摘要

Recent developments in Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFC) and Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (LT-SOFC) showed that Ceria-based powders can be used as Solid Electrolyte, Solid Additives for Cathode Composites and Solid Support for Anode Components. The availability of industrial powders has been questioned, as it could represent a technical and economical difficulty in further IT-SOFC and LT-SOFC developments. Rhodia Electronics & Catalysis (previously Rhone-Poulenc Rare Earths) and Anan Kasei Co., Ltd. (subsidiary of Rhodia Electronics & Catalysis) have developed a new industrial process (generation 3) to produce doped ceria powders that sinter at very low temperatures. The process is flexible enough to produce a large range of doping and compositions, such as CeGdO90-10, CeGdO80-20, CeSmO90-10, CeSmO80-20 and CYO80-20 (in atomic composition). The generation 3 process allows for tight control of chemical and physical characteristics such as stoichiometry, specific surface area, particle size and impurities level.