Structural, morphological and electrical studies of BaCe 0.8 Y 0.2 O 3-δ synthesized by solution combustion method

The 20 % yttrium doped barium cerate (BCY20) powder has been synthesized by cost effective solution combustion method. The flame temperature measured by pyrometer was 1055 °C, less than the adiabatic temperature due to various losses. The phase formation and evolution was studied with TG-DTA and XRD. The carbonate free orthorhombic BCY20 phase was obtained upon calcination at 900 °C. The microstructure of the powders and sintered pellet was examined through scanning electron microscopy. The vibrational mode at 355 cm, characteristics of CeO6 octahedra, was detected in Raman while the bands corresponding to M-O vibrations were revealed in FT-IR. The dc conductivities of sintered pellet measured in argon and air atmospheres at 600 °C were 1.53 × 10−3 and 1.41 × 10−3 S/cm.