BaCe0.85-xZrxY0.15O3-d (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) proton conducting materials for hydrogen separation membrane applications

Inorganic ceramic membranes based on mixed proton-electron conductors have received considerable attentions thanks to their possible applications such as hydrogen separation membranes, hydrogen pumps, hydrogen sensors and anodes for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). Hydrogen separation from syngas at high temperatures (T > 500°C) is one of the most important hydrogen-producing technologies and has attracted extensive interest in last few decades [ ]. In view of this, proton conducting electrolyte materials based on cerate-zirconate solid solutions are promising can-didates for the development of hydrogen separation ceramic membranes. Among these, Y-doped BaCe1-xZrxO3-? showed high proton conductivity and good chemical stability in CO2- containing atmospheres, such as in case of syngas conditions [2]. In this work, with the final aim to fabricate asymmetric ceramic membranes for hydrogen separation, BaCe1-xZrxY0.15O3-??(x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4, hereafter BCZY) proton conducting materials have been prepared by different synthetic procedures. In particular, for the powders preparation, various techniques such as sol-gel Pechini (SGP) meth-od, microwave-assisted SGP method and solid state reaction have been developed. Morphology, structure, chemical stability and conductivity behaviour have been extensively investigated [3-4]. Moreover, die-pressing method and tape casting were explored to prepare porous cermets based on Ni-BCZY. On the other hand, aiming to prepare anode-supported PCFCs, a simple suspension spray process has been optimized for the deposition of dense BCZY films on porous Ni-BCZY substrates. In the same way, with the purpose to fabricate asymmetric ceramic membrane based on Ni-BCZY/Ni-BCZY porous-dense structure, a suspension spray method will be considered for the deposition of dense Ni-BCZY layers on Ni-BCZY porous cermets. References [1] T. Norby, R. Hausgrud, Nonporous Inorganic Membranes, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 2006. [2] K. D. Kreuer, Ann. Rev. Mater. Res. 33 (2003) 333. [3] S. Barison, M.Battagliarin, T. Cavallin, L. Doubova, M. Fabrizio, C.Mortalo`, S.Boldrini, L.Malavasi, R.Gerbasi, J. Mater. Chem. 18 (2008) 5120. [4] S. Barison, S., M. Fabrizio, M., S. Fasolin, F. Montagner, C. Mortalò, Mater. Res. Bull. 45 (2010) 1171.