Preparation and Protonic Conduction Characterization of SrCe0.95 Yb0.05 O3-α

The ytterbium doped perovskite-type strontium cerate(SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3-α)has been prepared by solid-state reactions and it’s structural and electrical characterization has been characterized using X-ray diffraction and AC impedance spectroscopy. X-ray power diffraction analysis shows that SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3-αhas a single phase of orthorhombic perovskite-type structure, and the results suggested thatYb3+substituted the position of Ce4+and formingoxygen vacancy. The electrical conductivitystudies ofSrCe0.95Yb0.05O3-αhave beenmade as a function oftemperature. Attemperature lower than 500 K, the ytterbium doped perovskite-type strontium cerate exhibits p-type conduction and the electric conduction is increasedwith increasingof temperature. However, at elevated temperatures and in hydrogen-containing atmospheres, it exhibits protonic conduction. At 800 K, the total conductivity is dominated by protonic conductivity, reaching a maximumvalue of 4.5 mS/cm. The proton migration mechanism could be proposed as“free”migration mechanism model, in which the proton moves by jumping between stationary host oxygen ions. Membranes based on dense SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3-αthin films can be expect to applied in fuel cells, chemical hydrogen pumps and hydrogen sensors.