Flash Sintering of (La, Sr)(Co, Fe)O3-Gd-Doped CeO2 Composite

Sintering of composites constituted by two nonstoichiometric phases (La0.6Sr0.4)(Co0.2Fe0.8)O3 (LSCF) and Gd0.1Ce0.9O2 (GDC) under constant electric field in constant heating rate experiment is studied in this work. The requirements of field and temperature for composite systematically increase with GDC amounts this indicating the importance of material conductivity. Sintering/grain growth rate is higher in the composite compared to pure LSCF phase. Flash‐sintering phenomenon in the composite is explained on the basis of three factors: (1) large and continuous increase in conductivity of LSCF acts as source of defects, (2) maintenance of sufficient local temperature because of GDC during continuous conductivity increase facilitates the cationic diffusion, and (3) reduction reactions of LSCF, during polaron hopping conduction, and of GDC phase at higher temperature activate the sintering process.