Evaluation of densification effects on the properties of 8 mol % yttria stabilized zirconia electrolyte synthesized by cost effective coprecipitation route

Abstract In the current work, properties of 8YSZ powder synthesized by co-precipitation method and sintered at 1200 °C, 1300 °C and 1400 °C are investigated. XRD analysis shows that all 8YSZ samples exhibit cubic phase and increased crystallite size is observed with increased sintering temperature. The relative density measurements show increased densification due to increased sintering temperature and relative density >96% is obtained for 8YSZ sintered at 1400 °C. SEM micrographs also confirm that structure becomes denser with increase in sintering temperature. EDX analysis confirms the elemental composition of 8YSZ and no impurity is observed while thermal analysis reveals weight losses within different temperature ranges. High ionic conductivity and maximum power density of 0.41 Wcm−2 is obtained for cell having 8YSZ electrolyte sintered at 1400 °C owing to its compact, dense and gas tight microstructure.