Microstructural study of Ce_1-xGd_xO_2-δ (x = 0.1 and 0.2) nano crystallized powders synthesized by the polymeric precursor method

Gadolinia-doped ceria powders (Ce_1-xGd_xO_2-δ) were prepared with substitution of 10 and 20% of the dopant element by the polymeric precursor method. This method makes possible the attainment of homogeny powder in molecular level, ideal to application in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) component. In this work, the particulated materials were calcinated in a range from 500 °C to 900 °C and structurally characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The sintering behaviors of the compact samples were determined by dilatometric analyses. The results showed the method efficiency to attain monophasic nanopowder with cubic crystalline structure starting at 700 °C. The crystallite average size and crystalline parameter were determined by the Rietveld refinement method. (author)