Characterization of Y and Mn co-substituted BaZrO3 ceramics: Material properties as a function of the substituent concentration

[EN] Innovations in materials science are the key element for solving technological challenges. Various energy and environmental applications require designing materials with tailored compositions, microstructures and specific target-oriented performance. Y and Mn co-substituted BaZrO3, e.g. BaZr0.85Y0.15Mn0.05O3-¿, has previously attracted attention as a membrane material for H2 separation from gas mixtures due to its mixed proton-electron conductivity leading to appreciable levels of H2-flux at elevated temperatures and its good thermo-chemical stability under reducing environments. In the present work, we developed ceramic materials within the BaZr0.8Y0.2-xMnxO3-¿ series, where x = 0.02¿0.15. The study of their functional properties in dependence of the Y-to-Mn ratio disclosed that thermal expansion and hydration decrease by increasing the Mn content as well as the total electrical conductivity. In addition to that, XPS analysis and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra (NEXAFS) in the vicinity of O K-edge and Mn L2,3-edges indicated that the Mn atoms oxidation state in the surface and in the bulk range from Mn2+ to Mn4+ depending on the ambient conditions that can be encountered in MPEC electrodes, which it is suggested to be related with a hydration mechanism mediated by Mn oxidation and subsequent proton attachment to oxygen neighbors, similar to LSM.