Fuel Cell Materials Fuel Cell Materials offers a wide range of ceria and zirconia based electrolyte materials for a variety of uses in solid oxide fuel cells.
Ceria-based Electrolyte Materials

Ceria-based electrolytes offer many advantages over traditional zirconia-based YSZ electrolytes, notably higher conductivities at lower operating temperatures and compatibility with high performance cathode materials. Fuel Cell Materials offers a full line of ceria-based electrolyte materials for solid oxide fuel cell and ceramic oxygen generators. The incorporation of ceria into SOFC anodes enhances electro-catalytic activity and provides a viable path toward internal reforming and/or direct utilization of hydrocarbon fuels. Two standard ceria electrolyte compositions (doped with gadolinium or samarium) are offered as nanoscale powders for use in colloidal deposition processes, sintering additives, and catalytic elements and supports. Ceramic grade powders tailored for substrate fabrication processes are available as well. Additional ceria formulations can be produced to your specifications.
Zirconia-based Electrolyte Materials

Fuel Cell Materials offers a variety of zirconia-based electrolytes. Yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the most popular electrolyte material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) because it conducts only oxygen ions over a wide range of oxygen partial pressures. YSZ membrane supported SOFCs are normally operated at temperatures above 800°C to achieve sufficiently high oxygen ion conductivity. Thin-film (10-20 μm) YSZ membranes and scandium-doped zirconia (ScSZ) both provide high oxygen conductivity at much lower operating temperatures. Nanoscale zirconia electrolyte materials are ideal for sintering aids and colloidal deposition processes. YSZ and ScSZ are offered in the form of nanoscale powders. YSZ and partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) are available as tape casting (micron-scale) powders. YSZ also is offered as aqueous engineered spray coating formulation or aqueous suspension. Custom zirconia compositions can be produced to your specifications.
Nanoscale Powders

NexTech's nanoscale powders offer extremely high suface areas, often approaching 200 m2/g, with primary crystallites on the order of 10-20 nm. The powders are softly agglomerated.
Ceramic Grade/Tape Casting (Micron Scale) Powders

The ceramic grade powders are designed for fabricating supports via tape casting, pressing, extrusion, etc., with surface areas on the order of 5-8 m2/g.
Aqueous Suspensions

NexTech has created aqueous suspensions of our GDC/CGO10 and YSZ8 materials. These suspensions are highly stable, with long shelf-lives and are ideal starting points for colloidal deposition experiments. YSZ8 also comes in an engineered coating formulation that can be tailored to match substrate shrinkage and lower firing temperatures.