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The BaCe 0.7 Zr 0.1 Y 0.2-x Zn x O 3- (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) has been synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction method for application in protonic solid oxide fuel cell. The phase purity and lattice parameters of the materials have been studied by the room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been done for check the morphology and grain growth of the samples. The chemical and mechanical stabilities have been done using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in pure CO 2 environment and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) in Argon atmosphere. The XRD of the materials show the orthorhombic crystal symmetry with Pbnm space group. The SEM images of the pellets show that the samples sintered at 1200 o C are highly dense. The XRD after TGA in CO 2 and thermal expansion measurements confirm the stability. The particles of the samples are in micrometer ranges and increasing Zn content decreases the size. The conductivity measurements have been done in 5% H 2 with Ar in dry and wet atmospheres. All the materials show high proton conductivity in the intermediate temperature range (400-700 o C). The maximum proton conductivity was found to be 1.0  10-2 S cm-1 at 700 o C in wet atmosphere for x = 0.10. From our study, 10 wt % of Zn seems to be optimum at the B-site of the perovskite structure. All the properties studied here suggest it can be a promising candidate of electrolyte for IT-SOFCs.

Highly dense proton conducting materials of BCZYSZn (BaCe 0.8-x Zr x Y 0.15 Sm 0.05 O 3-δ (x = 0.15, 0.20) with 4 wt.% ZnO as sintering additive), to be used as an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) electrolyte, have been processed by the conventional solid state reaction method. The crystalline phase, microstructure, electrical properties, cell performance and chemical stability of the materials have been investigated. The ionic conductivity of BCZYSZn 3 (x = 0.20) material has been measured to be ~2.56  10 -3 S cm −1 and ~8.32  10 -3 S cm −1 at 600 °C and 850 °C, respectively in wet 5%H 2 in Ar atmosphere. Microstructural characterizations of the zinc containing materials (BCZYSZn) show the formation of highly dense morphology with very large grains. The chemical stability test of BCZYSZn in pure CO 2 2shows that the material is very stable up to 1000 °C. The maximum power density for the BCZYSZn 3 electrolyte cell is found to be 0.42 W/cm 2 at 700 °C under the testing atmosphere.The performed characterizations reveal that these are suitable proton-conducting candidate materials for efficient electrochemical devices.

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) have become the most efficient, clean and cost-effective electrochemical energy conversion devices in recent years. While significant progress has been made in developing proton conducting electrolyte materials, mechanical strength and durability still need to be improved for efficient applications. We report that adding 5 mol% Zn to the Y-doped barium cerate-zirconate perovskite electrolyte material can significantly improve the sintering properties, mechanical strength, durability and performance. Using same proton conducting material in anodes, electrolytes and cathodes to make a strong structural backbone shows clear advantages in mechanical strength over other arrangements with different materials. Rietveld analysis of the X-ray and neutron diffraction data of BaCe0.7Zr0.1Y0.15Zn0.05O3−δ (BCZYZn05) revealed a pure orthorhombic structure belonging to the Pbnm space group. Structural and electrochemical analyses indicate highly dense and high proton conductivity at intermediate temperature (400–700 °C). The anode-supported single cell, NiO-BCZYZn05|BCZYZn05|BSCF-BCZYZn05, demonstrates a peak power density of 872 mW cm−2 at 700 °C which is one of the highest power density in an all-protonic solid oxide fuel cell. This observation represents an important step towards commercially viable SOFC technology.