Acetone mediated electrophoretic deposition of nanocrystalline SDC on NiO-SDC ceramics

Films of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (SDC) were electrophoretically deposited on non-conducting NiO-SDC ceramics using the suspension of nanocrystalline SDC in acetone. The effect of iodine addition on suspension stability was investigated by measuring the zeta potential of SDC particle and pH of the suspension. The highest zeta potential was 42.1 mV with the addition of 2 mg iodine at pH 5.7 indicating formation of relatively stable suspension. The particle size distribution reveals the agglomerate size of SDC in acetone with iodine addition was of the order of 222 nm. The surface morphology and sintering effect on grain growth of the deposited films were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The structural investigation of the sintered film was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and it revealed phase pure SDC with cubic structure. Impedance study of sintered SDC/NiO-SDC hetero-structure showed decrease in total resistance with increase in temperature.