Effects of Praseodymium Doping on Conductivity and Oxygen Permeability of Cobalt-Free Perovskite-Type Oxide BaFeO_3-δ

Among the perovskite-type oxides with symmetrical structure applied in oxygen permeable membranes, cubic phase structure is the most favorable for oxygen permeation.In order to stabilize the cubic perovskite structure of BaFeO_3-δ material at room temperature, iron was partially substituted by praseodymium.BaFe_1-yPr_yO_3-δ powders were synthesized by a solid state reaction method, and sintered samples were prepared from the synthesized BaFe_1-yPr_yO_3-δ powders.X-ray diffraction results reveal that the BaFe_1-yPr_yO_3-δ samples remain cubic structure at praseodymium substitution amount of y=0.05, 0.075, 0.1.Scanning electron microscope observation indicates that the sintered samples contain only a small amount of enclosed pores and the grain size of BaFe_1-yPr_yO_3-δ increase monotonically with the increase of the praseodymium doping amount, praseodymium doping promotes the grain size growth.Tests of electrical conductivity and oxygen permeation flux show that praseodymium doping improves the conduction properties of BaFe_1-yPr_yO_3-δ and BaFe_0.9Pr_0.1O_3-δ composition has an electrical conductivity of 6.5 S/cm and an oxygen permeation of 1.112 mL/(cm²·min) at 900 ℃, respectively.High temperature XRD investigation shows that the crystal structure of BaFe_0.975Pr_0.025O_3-δ membrane completely transform to cubic phase at 700 ℃.The present test results have shown that partially substitution of Fe by praseodymium in BaFeO₃ can stabilize the cubic structure and improve the properties.