Behavior of BaCe0.9−xZrxY0.1O3−δ in water and ethanol suspensions

The stability of perovskite proton conductors BaCe0.2Zr0.7Y0.1O2.95 and BaCe0.5Zr0.4Y0.1O2.95 (referred to as BCZY) has been tested by exposure of powders to water and ethanol at room temperature. The liquid phase was monitored as a function of time with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. With water, leaching of barium continued for over 200 days, the duration of the test. There was no systematic difference in leaching with solutions of native pH or alkalified with NH4OH. The powders, before and after treatment, were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM confirmed the degradation of the perovskite phase and revealed barium carbonate nanobranches and nanoparticles from the agglomeration of the fragmented perovskite. The effect of ethanol was much less severe; leaching of elements after immersion was negligible for up to 17 days, and XRD patterns before and after treatment did not show any structural degradation. It is concluded that ethanol is an appropriate choice as a processing solvent for tapecasting BCZY powders.