Preparation and characterization of barium cerate-based thick membranes using a screen printing process

A screen printing process is developed to prepare thick BaCe0.9Nd0.1O3 (BCN ) membranes from a fine BaCe0.9Nd0.1O3 powder made by co-precipitation from homogeneous oxalate solution. The microstructure and morphology of the mem branes are investigated for different preparation conditions. Crack-free de nse membranes less than 10 mum in thickness are obtained. Nitrogen permeati on test proves the membrane to be gas-tight. The electrical measurement by Ac impedance spectroscopy shows that both dense and porous membranes exhibi t a characteristic conductivity behavior, which consists of three regimes w ith different slopes. The conduction activation energies obtained from cond uctivity curves are in the range of 40 kJ/mol, which is much lower than the bulk materials. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.