Nanocrystalline, mesoporous NiO/Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−δ thin films with tuned microstructures and electrical properties: in situ characterization of electrical responses during the reduction of NiO†
Abstract
Crystalline, mesoporous NiO/GDC thin films with thicknesses ranging from 50 nm to 250 nm were synthesized through templated sol–gel chemistry coupled with the dip-coating process and heat-treatment in air. The thin films' microstructure is composed of two interpenetrated networks made of mesopores and inorganic components. Efficient coupling between the temperature and the NiO volume fraction (vol%) allows tuning of both the pore size with dimensions ranging from macro- to meso-size and the NiO or GDC crystallite size with a diameter below 10 nm.