Effect of Chromium on Electrochemical and Mechanical Properties of Beta-Al2O3 Solid Electrolyte Synthesized Via a Citrate-Nitrate Combustion Method

The beta-Al2O3 solid electrolyte doped with Chromium was synthesized via a citrate-nitrate combustion method, which started with NaNO3, LiNO3, Cr(NO3)3·9H2O, and Al(NO3)3·9H2O as the raw materials in this paper. The thermal behavior analysis, structure, and ionic conductivity of the beta-Al2O3 solid electrolyte were studied by the thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Meanwhile, the relative density and bending strength of the samples were also measured. The results showed that with the appropriate Chromium doping, the calcining temperature of the precursor powders was only 1100 °C, the β″-Al2O3 phase content, bending strength, relative density, and ionic conductivity were all improved with a compact and uniform cross section micrograph. The optimized sample contained 94% of β″-Al2O3 phase and exhibited a relative density up to 98.13% of the theoretical density. In addition, it showed a good bending strength (215 MPa) and a satisficed ionic conductivity (0.110 S cm−1 at 350 °C).