A soft chemistry route for the synthesis of nano solid electrolytes Ce(1-x)Bi(x)O2-x/2

A polymeric synthesis route to Ce1-xBixO2-x/2 solid electrolytes is propose d for alternating conventional high-temperature solid-state reactions. This synthesis route is based on a modified Pechini process, which allows the p olymerization of precursors at 300-500 degreesC. Ce1-xBixO2-x/2 derived fro m citrate gels crystallizes in cubic fluorite-type structures and shows sol id solution properties with Bi-doping content ranging from x = 0.1 to 0.4. The nanoparticle size (similar to 30 nm) of Ce1-xBixO2-x/2 allows better si ntering into highly ceramic pellets at 900 degreesC. The highest ionic cond uctivity for the x = 0.3 composition at 600 degreesC was 1.42 x 10(-2) S(.) cm(-1) with E-a = 0.95 eV. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.