Characterisation of (CeO2)0.8(GdO1.5)0.2 synthesised using various techniques
Abstract The physical and electrical properties of (CeO 2 ) 0.8 (GdO 1.5 ) 0.2 have been examined using powders prepared from a number of different synthesis routes. Powders were synthesised using a modified co-precipitation reaction, a solid state reaction, and a commercial powder from a hydrothermal synthesis route. The powders synthesised via the solid state route showed very inferior results, even after sintering at 1650°C. The co-precipitated synthesised powder, and the commercial powder, produced dense ceramics at 1650°C; in fact, the commercial powder produced a dense ceramic when sintered at only 1400°C. The ionic conductivity varied between 4.5×10 −2 S/cm at 800°C for the solid state prepared powder, to 3.2×10 −1 S/cm at 800°C for the co-precipitated synthesised powder. The effect of sintering temperature was also examined.