Structure and microstructure dependent ionic conductivity in 10 mol% Dy2O3 doped CeO2 nanoparticles synthesized by mechanical alloying
Abstract Nanocrystalline powders of 10 mol% Dy 2 O 3 doped ceria (CeO 2 ) are prepared by mechanical alloying the mixture of CeO 2 and Dy 2 O 3 powders within a short duration of 1 h of milling in open air and the powder is further milled for 3 h and 8 h to confirm the phase stability, measure the change in microstructure parameters and find the dependence of ionic conductivity on the microstructure parameters with increasing milling time. Different structural and microstructural parameters such as lattice parameter, particle size, and microstrain in doped CeO 2 nanoparticles are obtained by Rietveld refinement using XRD data employing MAUD software. Ionic conductivities of the compounds for three different milling durations are measured as a function of temperature (350 °C–560 °C). Dy-doping is found to enhance the ionic conductivity of ceria nanoparticles and the 8 h milled sample shows highest conductivity. Increase in ionic conductivity of sample with increase in milling duration is attributed to the change in the structure and microstructure parameters of the compounds.