Densification Study of Pr6O11 as a Limiting Step for the Determination of Its Oxygen Transport Properties

This study describes the successful sintering of Pr6O11, which is recently developed as a promising oxygen electrode for Solid Oxide Cells (SOCs). Using dense pellets or thin films is mandatory prior to an accurate measurement of the ionic transport properties via the isotopic oxyen exchange method here involved. Dilatometry experiments performed under different atmospheres (argon, air, oxygen) and sintering tests with different thermal cycles allowed overcoming the detrimental phase changes of Pr6O11 and densifying this oxide with a sintered relative density of 95%. Dense pellets of large sizes were prepared. In a second part, the ionic transport properties of Pr6O11 have been determined in the range 400 < T °C < 800 thanks to Isotopic Exchange Depth Profiling (IEDP) measurements.