Bradha MadhavanNagaraj BalakrishnanBranesh PillaiAnanth SteephenRathinam Technical CampusKPR Institute of Engineering and TechnologyMahidol University2022-08-042022-08-042021-09-01Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics. Vol.32, No.18 (2021), 23066-230801573482X095745222-s2.0-85112837768https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/76934To affluence the ionic conductivity enhancement in Cerium Oxide (CeO2) for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs), we report synthesis of Zr substituted, Samarium doped Ceria (SDC) via chemical procedure. Substitution of Zr has assisted the stabilizing of majority Ceria as Ce4+ and improved the ionic conductivity considerably. The cubic fluorite structure of CeO2 was supported by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Particle’s morphology is studied using SEM, TEM which revealed size of CeO2 as 20 nm. Valence state of cations and concentration of Ce4+ are proven through X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS). This result confirms 50% upsurge in tetravalent Cerium concentration (from 56 to 84%) which influences the ionic conductivity. The x = 0.075 composition revelations greater ionic conductivity of 0.528 × 10–1(S cm−1) at 750 °C in comparison with other ‘x’ configurations. The substitution of Zr4+ in SDC stabilizes the cubic fluorite structure and promotes oxygen vacancies enhancing ionic conducting nature. The elevated ionic conductivity value and stability of Ce4+ the present work proposes that the prepared materials are promising ionic conductors.Mahidol UniversityEngineeringMaterials SciencePhysics and AstronomyArticleSCOPUS10.1007/s10854-021-06789-3