| The main objective of this thesis was to explore, characterize and evaluate different CeO2-based electrolyte materials that could be employed to replace the existing yttria-stabilized zirconia oxide used as the electrolyte component of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The electrolyte materials were synthesized using a radio frequency inductively coupled plasma reactor. CeO2-based fine powders doped with different compositions of Gd, Sm or Y were synthesized from nitrate salts dissolved in water. The powders were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), SEM and EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy). It was demonstrated that the concentrations of Ce and dopants fed in the solutions were retained in the synthesized powders. The products were all crystalline and had multimodal size distributions. The effect of plasma synthesis parameters, i.e. plasma power, reactor pressure, and plasma flow rate on particle size distribution was studied. This analysis provides fundamental understanding of the mechanism of particle formation and collection in thermal plasma environments. |
