Electrical behaviour and microstructural characterization of magnesia co-doped ScSZ nanopowders synthesized by urea co-precipitation

In this study Scandia-doped zirconia co-doped with MgO, (MgO)_0.03(ZrO₂)_0.88(Sc₂O₃)_0.09, was synthetized by using the urea co-precipitation method in hot aqueous solution. MgO was added to prevent the transformation of cubic fluorite Sc-doped ZrO₂ into rhombohedral phase, with worst electrical properties. The as-prepared powders were completely amorphous and, by a calcination step at 500 °C for 1 h, full conversion to fluorite phase occurred preserving the nano size character of powders. The presence of MgO allowed to effectively stabilize the cubic fluorite phase also after a prolonged thermal treatment at 1200 °C. The nanometric feature of the powder aided the sintering step of this material at 1600 °C. The EIS electrical characterization revealed that its ionic conductivity is 7.3.10^-2 S/cm and 2.8.10^-2 S/cm at 800 °C and 700 °C, respectively. Therefore, this material is suitable as ceramic electrolyte in SOFC operated at intermediate temperatures.