Development of mixed conducting dense nickel/Ca-doped lanthanum zirconate cermet for gas separation application

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Phase pure La{sub 1.95}Ca{sub 0.05}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7-{delta}} (LCZ) material is prepared by combustion synthesis. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer LCZ and Ni-LCZ bulk samples are prepared with theoretical density close to 100%. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Bulk electrical conductivity {approx}400 S/cm is obtained for Ni-LCZ cermet at 750 Degree-Sign C. -- Abstract: La{sub 1.95}Ca{sub 0.05}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7-{delta}} (LCZ) and Ni-LCZ cermet have been prepared by combustion synthesis and conventional solid state mixing methods respectively. Both the materials are sintered in air and controlled atmosphere (5% H{sub 2} in Ar). The density obtained for the material sintered at 1400 Degree-Sign C in controlled atmosphere is found to be more than 99.5%. This sintering temperature (1400 Degree-Sign C) is considered to be much lower compared to the conventional sintering temperature. The corresponding total conductivity for such Ni-LCZ cermet materials is {approx}400 S/cm measured at 750 Degree-Sign C having 40 vol% of Ni and 60 vol% LCZ.