Seikh Mohammad Habibur Rahman

Sr2GaScO5, Sr10Ga6Sc4O25, and SrGa0.75Sc0.25O2.5: A play in the octahedra to tetrahedra ratio in oxygen-deficient perovskites

Three different perovskite-related phases were isolated in the SrGa(1-x)Sc(x)O(2.5) system: Sr(2)GaScO(5), Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25), and SrGa(0.75)Sc(0.25)O(2.5). Sr(2)GaScO(5) (x = 0.5) crystallizes in a brownmillerite-type structure [space group (S.G.) Icmm, a = 5.91048(5) Å, b = 15.1594(1) Å, and c = 5.70926(4) Å] with complete ordering of Sc(3+) and Ga(3+) over octahedral and tetrahedral positions, respectively. The crystal structure of Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25) (x = 0.4) was determined by the Monte Carlo method and refined using a combination of X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction data [S.G. I4(1)/a, a = 17.517(1) Å, c = 32.830(3) Å]. It represents a novel type of ordering of the B cations and oxygen vacancies in perovskites. The crystal structure of Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25) can be described as a stacking of eight perovskite layers along the c axis ...[-(Sc/Ga)O(1.6)-SrO(0.8)-(Sc/Ga)O(1.8)-SrO(0.8)-](2).... Similar to Sr(2)GaScO(5), this structure features a complete ordering of the Sc(3+) and Ga(3+) cations over octahedral and tetrahedral positions, respectively, within each layer. A specific feature of the crystal structure of Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25) is that one-third of the tetrahedra have one vertex not connected with other Sc/Ga cations. Further partial replacement of Sc(3+) by Ga(3+) leads to the formation of the cubic perovskite phase SrGa(0.75)Sc(0.25)O(2.5) (x = 0.25) with a = 3.9817(4) Å. This compound incorporates water molecules in the structure forming SrGa(0.75)Sc(0.25)O(2.5)·xH(2)O hydrate, which exhibits a proton conductivity of ∼2.0 × 10(-6) S/cm at 673 K.

The proton conducting electrolyte BaTi0.5In0.5O2.75: determination of the deuteron site and its local environment

Deuterated BaTi0.5In0.5O2.75 has been studied with neutron total (Bragg plus diffuse) scattering data, using both the Rietveld refinement method and the reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modelling technique, to investigate the preferred proton site and its local structural environment. The Rietveld analysis shows an excellent fit between experimental data and a long-range cubic description of the BaTi0.5In0.5O2.53(OD)0.44 perovskite structure containing a statistical distribution of Ti and In ions at the centre of regular (Ti/In)O6 octahedra. However, an RMC analysis of the data reveals substantial local structural features that reflect limitations of the Rietveld method for studies of this type. The Ti-O and In-O pair distribution functions given by the RMC analysis are markedly different from each other, with average Ti-O and In-O bond distances of 2.035 Å and 2.159 Å, respectively. The InO6 octahedra are regular in shape whereas the TiO6 octahedra are distorted. The average O-D bond distance is roughly 0.96 Å, and the preferred deuteron sites have a second nearest oxygen distance of 2.13 Å, which confirms localized tilting of the deuteron and indicates a substantial degree of hydrogen bonding. The impact of octahedral distortion and hydrogen bonding on the proton conduction mechanism is discussed.

Proton Conductivity in Mixed B-Site Doped Perovskite Oxide BaZr[sub 0.5]In[sub 0.25]Yb[sub 0.25]O[sub 3 - delta]

A wet chemical route was used to prepare the oxygen deficient codoped perovskite oxide BaZr0.5In0.25Yb0.25O3−. Analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data showed that the sample belongs to the cubic crystal system with space group Pmm. Dynamic thermogravimetric (TG) analysis confirmed complete filling of oxygen vacancies (V) by protonic defects (OH) during the hydration process. The proton conductivity was investigated by impedance spectroscopy. The bulk and total conductivities of prehydrated BaZr0.5In0.25Yb0.25O3− were found to be 8.5×10−4 and 2.2×10−5 S cm−1, respectively, at 300°C. The total conductivity in the codoped perovskite oxide was higher compared to that of the respective single doped perovskite oxides with the same doping level. The bulk and grain-boundary mobility and diffusion coefficients of protons were calculated at 200°C using impedance and TG data to obtain the conductivity and proton concentration, respectively. The high bulk diffusivity (2.3×10−7 cm2 s−1) was obtained which indicates that the protons are more free to move in the heavily doped matrix compared to the lightly doped systems where trapping of protons occurs.

Proton conductivity of hexagonal and cubic BaTi1-XScxO3-delta (0.1 l= x l= 0.8)

BaTi1-xScxO3-δ (x = 0.1-0.8) was prepared via solid state reaction. High resolution X-ray powder diffraction was used to characterise the synthesised materials. It was found that low substitution (x = 0.1 and 0.2) of Ti(4+) for Sc(3+) gives a hexagonal perovskite structure, whereas high substitution (x = 0.5-0.7) results in a cubic perovskite structure. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed significant levels of protons in both as-prepared and hydrated samples. Electrical conductivity was measured by AC impedance methods under oxygen, argon and under dry and humid, both H2O and D2O, conditions for BaTi1-xScxO3-δ (x = 0.2, 0.6 and 0.7). In the temperature range of 150-600 °C, under humid conditions, the conductivity is significantly higher than that under the dry conditions. The increase in conductivity is especially prominent for the cubic phases, indicating that protons are the dominant charge carriers. The proton conductivity of hexagonal BaTi0.8Sc0.2O3-δ is approx. two orders of magnitude lower than that of the more heavily substituted cubic phases. Conductivity is also found to be higher in dry O2 than in Ar in the whole temperature range of 150-1000 °C, characteristic of a significant contribution from p-type charge carriers under oxidising atmospheres. Greater Sc(3+) substitution leads to a higher proton concentration and the highest proton conductivity (σ∼ 2 × 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 600 °C) is found for the BaTi0.3Sc0.7O3-δ composition.

Role of the doping level in localized proton motions in acceptor-doped barium zirconate proton conductors

Acceptor-doped barium zirconates are currently receiving considerable interest because of their high proton conductivity at intermediate temperatures, making them applicable as electrolytes in various electrochemical devices, but the mechanism of proton conduction is unclear. Here, we investigate the role of the acceptor-dopant level in the localized proton motions, i.e. proton transfers between oxygens and O-H reorientations, in hydrated samples of the proton conducting, acceptor-doped, perovskites BaZr1-xInxO3-x/2 with x = 0.10 and 0.20, using quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). Analysis of the QENS spectra reveals that several proton transfer and O-H reorientational motions contribute to the QENS signal, as a consequence of the locally disordered nature of the structure due to the In doping of these materials, and establishes a generic and complex picture of localized proton dynamics in acceptor-doped barium zirconate based proton conductors. A comparison of the QENS results with vibrational spectroscopy data of the same materials, as reported in the literature, suggests a predominance of O-H reorientational motions in the observed dynamics. The highest doping level corresponds to a more distorted structure and faster dynamics, which thus indicates that some degree of structural disorder is favourable for high local proton mobility.

Synthesis and Enhanced Proton Conduction in a 20 mol% Ytterbium Doped Barium Zirconate Ceramic Using Zn as Sintering Aid

20% Ytterbium (III)-doped perovskite structured barium zirconate, BaZrO3, was prepared by two different synthesis routes: solid state and sol-gel routes. 2 % Zinc (II) was added as an acceptor dopant at the Zr (IV) site according to stoichiometry. It was also added as 2 % excess of the formula. The purpose of this study is to see how zinc (II) acts as a sintering aid in view of synthesis route, densification and conductivity of the material. A dense ceramic (90% of theoretical density) was achieved by the sol-gel method when stoichiometry was adjusted. Phase purity of the samples was checked by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Impedance spectroscopy (IS) was used to characterize hydration and electrical conductivity respectively.The data shows that the addition of stoichiometric amounts of Zn2+ via sol-gel synthesis route promotes not only densification but also water incorporation and conductivity in comparison with the solid state route, keeping the same final sintering temperature of 1500°C. For example, pre-hydrated BaZr0.78Zn0.02Yb0.2O3-δ, prepared via the sol-gel method shows total conductivity (σtot) value of 3.14*10-5 and 3.8*10-3Scm-1, whereas for the solid state route, σtot values are 1.74*10-5 and 8.87*10-4Scm-1 under dry Ar (heating cycle) at 300° C and 600° C, respectively.

Synthesis and Characterization of Sm1-xZrxFe1-yMgyO3 (x, y = 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) as Possible Electrolytes for SOFCs

The novel perovskite oxide series of Sm1-xZrxFe1-yMgyO3 (x,y = 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) were synthesized by solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and conductivity analysis were carried out. XRD patterns of sintered materials revealed the shifted Bragg reflection to higher angle for the higher content of Zr and Mg. This is related to the ionic size of the dopant elements. Rietveld refinement showed that all compounds crystallized in cubic space group of Fm-3m. SEM images showed that the grains were well defined with highly dense surfaces makes it potential as an electrolyte material in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) or gases sensors. Impedance spectroscopy at 550-800 °C shows that conductivity is higher at higher temperature. Sm0.5Zr0.5Fe0.5Mg0.5O3 shows the highest conductivity of 5.451 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 800 °C. It was observed that 50% molar ratio of Mg and Zr doping performed highest conductivity.

The Fluorite-Like Phase Nd5Mo3O16±δ in the MoO3–Nd2O3 System: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Conducting Properties

This paper describes a study of the system MoO3-Nd2O3 using a combination of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and ac impedance spectroscopy (IS). A phase-pure material is observed at a composition of 45.5 mol % Nd2O3, which corresponds to an ideal stoichiometry of Nd5Mo3O16.5. XRD and NPD show that the crystal structure is a superstructure of the fluorite arrangement, with long-range ordering of the two cation species leading to a doubled unit cell parameter. The sample is found to be significantly oxygen deficient, i.e. Nd5Mo3O15.63(4), when it is prepared by a solid-state reaction at 1473 K in air. TGA measurements indicate that the sample loses only minimal mass on heating to 1273 K in O2. IS studies of the mean conductivity under different atmospheres show that the sample is a mixed conductor between ambient temperature and 873 K, with a dominant electronic component at higher temperatures, as demonstrated by measurements under inert atmosphere. NPD measurements indicate that the anion vacancies are preferentially located on the O2 sites, while studies of the temperature dependence performed under an O2 atmosphere to 1273 K show significantly anisotropic thermal parameters of the anions. Together with analysis of the total neutron scattering data, this supports a model of oxygen ions hopping between O2 positions, with a vacancy, rather than interstitial, mechanism for the anion diffusion.

Structural and electrochemical characterization of BaCe0.7Zr0.2Y0.05Zn0.05O3 as an electrolyte for SOFC-H

As a potential electrolyte for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC-Hs) and to get better protonic conductivity and stability, zinc doped BCZY material has been found to be promising. In this study, we report a new composition of proton conductors BaCe0.7Zr0.2Y0.05Zn0.05O3 (BCZYZn5) which was investigated using XRD, SEM and conductivity measurements. Rietveld refinement of the XRD data revel a cubic perovskite structure with Pm-3m space group. BaCe0.7Zr0.2Y0.05Zn0.05O3 shows cell parameter a = 4.3452(9) A. Scanning electron microscopy images shows that the grain sizes are large and compact which gives the sample high density and good protonic conductivity. The total conductivity in wet atmosphere is significantly higher than that of dry condition and the conductivity was found to be 0.276 × 10-3 Scm-1 and 0.204 × 10-3 Scm-1 at 600°C in wet and dry Ar, respectively. This study indicated that perovskite electrolyte BCZYZn5 is a promising material for the next generation intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs).