Investigation on spray deposited BaCe sub(0.7)Zr sub(0.1)Y sub(0.1)Gd sub(0.1)O sub(2.9) thin film for proton conducting SOFC

The BaCe sub(0.8)Y sub(0.2)O sub(2.9) (BCY) is co-doped with Zr and Gd with a motive to improve its chemical stability and electrical conductivity. The films are spray deposited on alumina substrate. The films annealed at different temperatures are studied by XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman and SEM/AFM. The annealing is observed to promote crystallinity, grain growth and densification. The XRD pattern reveals orthorhombic crystal structure. The presence of Ce(IV) and other elements is confirmed by XPS and EDAX, which also assures absence of surface impurities. The most intense band at 355 cm super(-1) is observed in micro Raman spectrum. The morphology of the film changes with the annealing. AFM reveals grains of 51 nm. The electrical conductivity of BCZYG is measured in air and moist air and it is compared with that of BC, BCY, BCZY and BCGY. Among all, BCZYG shows highest conductivity of 10.02 10 super(-3) S cm super(-1) in moist-air.