Enhanced Ionic Conductivity in Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9: Unique Effect of Calcium Co‐doping

In order to identify new oxide ion-conducting materials in the ceria family of oxides, the unique effect of co-doping is explored and a novel series of $Ce_{0.8}Sm_{0.2}_xCa_xO_{2-\delta}$ compositions is identified that have enhanced properties compared to the singledoped $Ce_{0.8}Sm_{0.2}O_{1.9}$ and $Ce_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}O_{1.9}$ compositions. Moreover, the superior characteristics of the co-doped $Ce_{0.8}Sm_{0.2-x}-Ca_xO_{2-\delta}$ powders prepared by the mixed-fuel process aid in obtaining 98% dense ceramics upon sintering at $1200^o$C for 6 h.Though a linear increase in conductivity is observed by replacing Sm with Ca, the composition with the maximum amount of Ca and the minimum amount of Sm exhibits a significant improvement in properties compared to the rest in the series. The composition $Ce_{0.80}Sm_{0.05}Ca_{0.15}O_{2-\delta}$ exhibits a conductivity as high as 1.22 \times $10^{-1} Scm^{-1}$ at $700^o$ C with minimum activation energy (0.56 eV) and a superior chemical stability to reduction compared to any of the hitherto known (CaSm) compositions. The absence of $Ce^{III}$, confirmed both from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, strongly suggests that the observed increase in conductivity is solely due to the oxide ion conductivity and not due to the partial electronic contribution arising from the presence of $Ce^{III}$ and $Ce^{IV}$. To conclude, the experimental results on the $Ce_{0.8}Sm_{0.2-x}Ca_xO_{2-\delta}$ series underscore the unique effect of calcium co-doping in identifying a cost-effective new composition, with a remarkably high conductivity and enhanced chemical stability to reduction, for technological applications.

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