Microwave assisted synthesis of ysz based electrolyte and electrode materials for sofc application

Abstract

The present work focuses on developing Yttria Stabilized Zirconia newline(YSZ) based electrolyte material and electrode materials for Solid Oxide Fuel newlineCell s (SOFC) via a rapid and environmental friendly approach. With this aim, newlinemicrowave assisted combustion approach was utilized throughout the present newlinework. Thus, this thesis includes development of YSZ and its solid solution in newlinecombination with ZnO (Zinc Oxide), and ZnO/Pr6O11(Praseodymium Oxide)as newlineelectrolytes. Further, YSZ composite using NiO (Nickel Oxide) as electrode newlinematerial was also developed. All such materials are prepared using microwave newlinecombustion and conventional sintering. The obtained materials were studied for newlinetheir conductivity and dielectric properties in addition to conduction newlinemechanism and performingfundamental analysis such as X- ray diffractogram, newlinescanning electron microscopy, density evaluation and particle size distribution. newlineInitially, YSZ was achieved using microwave assisted combustion newlinesynthesis. Further, the same has been sintered conventionally at various newlinetemperatures (from 1200 to 1400°C at 50°C interval). The phases of YSZ are newlinesimilar to that of conventionally prepared one with the presence of cubic newlinestructured Zirconia. Further, the order of crystalline nature increases with newlineincrease in temperature without the formation of secondary phases. Moreover, newlinethe electrical properties such as dielectric constant, dielectric loss and newlineconductivity were also studied at different temperatures along with their newlinemorphology and density studies. The results infer that the sample sintered at newline1400 °C exhibitshigh density in addition to its increased conductivity newline newline