Ceramic and Transport Characteristics of Electrolytes Based on Mg-Doped LaYO3

Abstract

Effect of magnesium on the sinterability, phase composition, microstructure, and transport properties of proton-conducting materials of composition LaY_1–xMg_xO_3–δ (х = 0, 0.05, 0.1) was studied. Ceramic samples were obtained by using the citrate-nitrate synthesis method at various sintering temperatures (1250–1400°C). It was shown that, for the samples with x = 0.05 and 0.1, the relative density was no less than 95% at a sintering temperature of 1350°C, whereas undoped lanthanum nitrate has this density at 1450°C. An X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that introduction of a small amount of magnesium (x = 0.05) is sufficient for forming the single-phase and high-dense ceramics. Electrical conductivity data show that the LaY_0.95Mg_0.05O_3–δ sample has high overall and ionic conductivities.