| 초록 |
High efficiency of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have gained widespread attention as environment-friendly energy conversion techniques, along with less or negligible pollution. However, zirconia-based electrolytes limit the use of cost-effective stainless steels as interconnects, due to high temperature operations, ranging near 1000℃. Such high temperature fuel cells prevent SOFCs from being commercialized toward small- and large-power applications. Contrary to zirconia-based electrolytes, ceria-based electrolytes offer higher conductivities at lower temperatures. However, conventional ceria-based electrolytes requires sintering at significantly high temperatures, near or above 1500℃. Contrary to the microcrystalline ceria-based electrolytes, the nanocrystalline electrolytes can lead to reduction in sintering temperature, along with full densification. This work will investigate the sonochemical approach to the synthesis of nanocrystalline electrolytes, i.e, Sm2O3-doped ceria-based electrolyte. Sonochemical process can produce nanopowders with the aim to achieving the full densification at lower temperatures. The characteristics of the synthesized nanocrystalline powder were investigated in terms of physical and chemical features. In particular, X-ray diffraction and Energy Dispersed Spectroscopy was performed in conjunction with impedance characterization. Therefore, the ramifications of the sonochemical approach will be discussed towards the commercialization of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuels. |
