Investigation of the physicochemical properties of Bi,Ca-doped BaZrO3 perovskites

Abstract

Perovskite oxides, primarily the ones based on BaZrO₃, hold significant interest for diverse applications in a variety of disciplines, such as electrocatalysts or electrolytes in fuel cell technologies. This study outlines the synthesis of BaZrO₃ perovskite powders via a sol–gel route, and explores the incorporation of bismuth and calcium cations through single doping. Extensive characterization, encompassing X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, oxygen/hydrogen temperature-programmed desorption/reduction, and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, reveals the impact of the metal cation incorporation on physicochemical properties, enhancing oxygen vacancies and lattice oxygen species within the BaZrO₃ perovskite structure.