Cerium(IV) oxide used as a mixed conductor. Ceria is of interest as a material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) because of its relatively high oxygen ion conductivity (i.e. oxygen atoms readily move through it) at intermediate temperatures (500–650 °C) and lower association enthalpy compared to Zirconia system. The cerium(IV) oxide–cerium(III) oxide cycle or CeO/CeO cycle is a two step thermochemical water splitting process based on cerium(IV) oxide and cerium(III) oxide for hydrogen production. Cerium(IV) oxide Cerium(IV) oxide, also known as ceric oxide, ceric dioxide, ceria, cerium oxide or cerium dioxide, is an oxide of the rare-earth metal cerium. It is a
Metal oxide adhesion exposed to the interface can react to form oxides. After the initial oxide monolayer is formed, new layers begin to build and the ions must be able to diffuse through the oxide in order to increase thickness of the oxide. The rate of oxidation is controlled by how fast these ions are able to diffuse through the material. As the thickness of the oxide increases, the rate of oxidation decreases because it requires the atoms to travel a further distance. This rate can quantified by calculating the rate of diffusion of vacancies or ions using Fick’s first law of diffusion.