Characteristics of samaria-doped ceria nanoparticles prepared by spray pyrolysis

Abstract

Samaria-doped ceria (SDC) nanoparticles were prepared by spray pyrolysis. The means sizes of the samaria-doped ceria nanoparticles were controlled from 21 to 150 nm by changing the calcination temperatures between 700 and 1200 degrees C. The pellets formed from the SDC particles calcined at temperatures between 700 and 1000 degrees C had similar grain sizes between 0.75 and 0.82 mu m. However, pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1200 degrees C had large grain size of 1.22 mu m. The pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1000 degrees C had slightly smaller resistance of grain-boundary than those of the pellets formed from the SDC particles calcined at temperatures between 700 and 900 degrees C. However, the pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1200 degrees C had low resistance of grain-boundary. The pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1200 degrees C had conductivity of 44.65 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) at a measuring temperature of 700 degrees C that more twice than those of the pellets formed from the SDC calcined below 1000 degrees C. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.