Ce travail s'inscrit dans le cadre du développement de matériaux composites nanostructurés à propriétés électriques et magnétiques inédites. Afin de répondre à des besoins technologiques pour, l'électronique de puissance intégrée : le stockage ou la transmission de l'énergie, les télécommunications (antenne intégrée...), le stockage de l'information par enregistrement magnétique et le marquage biologique, le composite doit présenter globalement une polarisation magnétique élevée ainsi qu'un comportement isolant permettant de pousser les limites fréquentielles, minimiser les pertes dynamiques et découpler les grains entre eux. Les matériaux composites élaborés sont constitués d'une matrice d'accueil - magnétique (ferrite spinelle) ou non-magnétique (diélectrique = silice) - dans laquelle sont dispersées des particules métalliques (Fer-Nickel ou Cobalt). Ces matériaux sont novateurs dans la mesure où le matériau final peut bénéficier d'un couplage des propriétés magnétiques des deux phases constitutives. L'holographie électronique en transmission a mis en évidence une ocnfiguration de spins de type « vortex » dans les nanoparticules de Fe30Ni70. Les mesures holographiques ont été comparées au profil de l'aimantation, dans un vortex, modélisé par une approche micromagnétique. Des analyses physico-chimiques approfondies nous ont permis de confirmer les topologies visées : pour le composite métal-diélectrique, l'épaisseur de la couche d'enrobage a pu être contrôlée à l'échelle nanonométrique. Pour le composite métal-oxyde obtenu par croissance directe du ferrite sur la phase métallique, on a démontré une bonne dispersion des particules métalliques. Les propriétés magnétiques et structurales des différents composites, en poudre ou compactés par SPS (compactage-frittage flash), ont été caractérisées et discutées. Les propriétés fonctionnelles ont été aussi étudiées et sont très prometteuses pour les applications visées. L'enrobage des nanoparticules par la silice a permis la préparation de leur surface dans la perspective d'une fonctionnalisation par des entités biologiques.

Il presente lavoro intende esaminare il processo di decision making relativo alla politica sociale statunitense sviluppatosi a partire dalla fine degli anni Sessanta, fornendo un’analisi di carattere «istituzionalista» che ponga in rilievo gli snodi cruciali del dibattito relativo al welfare system federale svoltosi sia all’interno del Congresso, sia presso i think tank, i centri universitari, le organizzazioni culturali e religiose, le lobby e le altre realtà associative emerse dalla società civile. In particolare, la ricerca si concentra sull’intreccio tra ideologia politica, mentalità tradizionale, opinione pubblica e interessi specifici, e sull’influsso esercitato dalla dimensione culturale e istituzionale sul processo legislativo. Sono stati individuati quattro principali indirizzi socio-politici, ciascuno dei quali ha avuto un particolare influsso su altrettante ‘fasi’ del processo di riforma del welfare system statunitense svoltosi tra il 1968 e il 2006. L’analisi del dibattito culturale e politico è stata suddivisa pertanto in quattro diversi capitoli (capp. 2-5) che consentono di delineare percorsi distinti per le diverse ipotesi socio-culturali individuate, ai quali viene anteposta una premessa storica relativa alle origini del sistema assistenziale e previdenziale statunitense e alle politiche riformiste degli anni Sessanta (cap. 1). / The dissertation examines the process of decision making that determined the development of U.S. social policy from the end of the Sixties. It analyzes the institutional character of the debate that took place inside the Congress and inside the think tanks, the academic centers, the cultural and religious foundations and other associations. In particular, the research is focused on the tangle between political ideologies, traditional culture, public opinion and legislative process. The dissertation identifies four different socio-political streams: each of them influenced a particular “phase” of the reform of the U.S. welfare system from 1968 up to 2006. The analysis of the cultural and political debate has been divided in four chapters (chapters 2-5) that allow to delineate different developments for the four streams, after an historical premise (chapter 1) that presents the origins of American welfare system, from the colonial times to the Sixties.

L’obiettivo di questo lavoro di ricerca è fare luce su alcuni dei motivi alla base di un rapporto tra scienza e media non sempre facile, nel tentativo di definire gli elementi fondamentali per un giornalismo biomedico divulgativo di qualità. In particolare l’analisi è rivolta al passaggio che più di tutti gli altri, nella costruzione della notizia, pone il giornalista e il metodo scientifico uno di fronte all’altro: la “traduzione” dell’articolo scientifico in articolo divulgativo. La valutazione di elementi quali l’approccio dei giornalisti alla significatività statistica e alla rilevanza clinica dei risultati di uno studio, l’utilizzo dei parametri statistici per esprimere gli esiti ha consentito di delineare una mappa dei punti di maggiore criticità del giornalismo biomedico. La “miscommunication” tra il mondo della ricerca e quello dei media può essere superata dall’acquisizione di un metodo che consenta al giornalista di individuare gli studi che hanno le caratteristiche per diventare notizie da divulgare. Questo lavoro è centrato sull’attività del giornalista, ma occorre ricordare come la comunicazione della salute sia un processo che dalla ricerca fino alla divulgazione pubblica delle notizie coinvolge diversi attori, ciascuno con il proprio ruolo e responsabilità ben precise. / The aim of this research is to investigate some of the reasons at the roots of the tension between science and media, trying to define some of the most important elements that could ensure the quality of biomedical lay journalism. In particular the attention is focused on the step that in the construction of the news puts the journalist and the scientific method one in front of the other: the “translation” of the scientific article in lay press article. From the analysis a picture emerges in which often the journalist is lacking an indispensable background knowledge needed to be able to recognize what is statistically significant or clinically relevant. The “miscommunication” theory, that both journalists and scientists consider an obstacle to scientific information, could be overcome by the acquisition of a method for medical journalists to recognize medical researches that can be used and moved into lay press articles. This research focuses on the correct role of journalist in divulging medical information. However, is important to underline the fact that many are the actors that partecipate to health communication and everyone has a specific role and than responsability.

La presente tesi è un contributo allo studio delle implicazioni economiche delle intenzioni di fecondità e all’analisi degli aspetti economici legati ai processi decisionali riproduttivi. Precisamente la tesi, composta da tre capitoli indipendenti e basata su dati Italiani, si focalizza su donne, su individui che vivono in coppia e sulle coppie. In particolare lo studio mira a comprendere: i) l'interazione esistente tra il mercato del lavoro (con un focus particolare sul ruolo del settore occupazionale femminile) e le preferenze per la formazione della famiglia; ii) le influenze della ripartizione dei ruoli domestici all’interno della coppia sulle intenzioni riproduttive; iii) le determinanti (all’interno delle coppie) dell’accordo/disaccordo circa l'intenzione di diventare genitori una seconda volta, e -per coppie che registrano un disaccordo- iv) le determinanti che spingono una donna a contrastare l’intenzione positive del suo partner per un secondo figlio. La tesi utilizza il mixed-method design, una strategia basata sull’analisi quantitativa dei dati nonché sull’analisi approfondita di interviste: questo approccio consente di studiare l'argomento da diverse prospettive e -grazie ai due metodi di ricerca -quantitativo e qualitativo- di approfondire le conoscenze del fenomeno di interesse. / The thesis is a contribution to the study of the economic implications of fertility intentions and desires and of the economic aspects of the fertility decision making process. Precisely, it is based on three autonomous chapters and it aims at understanding: a) for women and for individuals within the couples the interplay between fertility and labour market preferences (with a particular focus on the role of women's sector of employment), and the influences that the (un)balanced division of domestic duties play on the intentions of becoming parents for another time in Italy; b) for couples living together the determinants of their (dis)agreement about the intention of becoming parents again; and c) for couples that disagree on future fertility plans, the determinants of female’s contrasting attitude towards her partners’ positive fertility intention. The dissertation uses a mixed-method design- a strategy based on survey data analysis as well as in-depth interviews analysis: this approach allows investigating the topic from different perspectives, by means of both quantitative and qualitative research methods in order to provide new insights into the phenomenon of interest.

Das Institut für Kern- und Teilchenphysik (IKTP) der Technischen Universität Dresden (TUD) hat im Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD) ein Labor zur Untersuchung von neutroneninduzierten kernphysikalischen Prozessen in Materialien, die für die Fusionsforschung relevant sind, aufgebaut. Das Labor ist ausgestattet mit drei intensiven Neutronenquellen: einer 14 MeV-Neutronenquelle, einer weißen kontinuierlichen Photoneutronen-Quelle, die näher in dieser Arbeit beschrieben wird, und einer gepulsten Photoneutronen-Quelle, die vom FZD inKooperation mit der TUD aufgebaut wurde. Die kontinuierliche Photoneutronen-Quelle basiert auf einem Radiator aus Wolfram (engl. Tungsten Photoneutron Source (TPNS)). TPNS nutzt die im ELBE-Beschleuniger (Elektronen Linearbeschleuniger für Strahlen hoher Brillianz und niedriger Emittanz (ELBE)) beschleunigten Elektronen zur Neutronenerzeugung. Der Prozess läuft über Zwischenschritte ab, indem bei der Abbremsung der Elektronen im Radiator Bremsstrahlungsphotonen entstehen, die anschließend Neutronen durch (γ,xn)-Reaktionen erzeugen. Das Neutronenspektrum der TPNS kann mittels Moderatoren so modifiziert werden, dass es dem in der ersten Wand im Fusionsreaktor entspricht. Dies ermöglicht Untersuchungen mit einem für einen Fusionsreaktor typischen Neutronenspektrum. Die technische Verwirklichung des Projektes, die Inbetriebnahme der Anlage sowie die Durchführung der ersten Experimente zur Neutronenerzeugung ist Inhalt dieser Arbeit. Die Neutronenquelle ist insbesondere für qualitative Untersuchungen in der Fusionsneutronik bestimmt. Der Fusionsreaktor produziert, im Vergleich zu einem Spaltungsreaktor, keine langlebigen Isotope als Abfall. Die wesentliche Aktivität des Reaktors ist in Konstruktionsmaterialien akkumuliert. Durch sorgfältige Auswahl der Materialien kann man die Aktivierung minimieren und damit künftig wesentlich weniger radioaktives Inventar produzieren als in Spaltreaktoren. Ziel der kernphysikalischen Untersuchungen ist, solche Materialien für den Aufbau eines Fusionsreaktors zu erforschen, die niedrigaktivierbar sind, das heißt wenig Aktivität akkumulieren können, und eine Halbwertzeit von einigen Jahren haben. Es ist das Ziel, alle Konstruktionsmaterialien nach 100 Jahren wiederverwenden zu können. Die Neutronenflussdichte einer Photoneutronenquelle ist einige Größenordnungen höher als die, die mittels eines DT-Neutronengenerators mit anschließender Moderation erreicht werden kann. Die gesamte Arbeit ist in drei Teile geteilt. Der erste Teil leitet in die Problematik der Energieversorgung ein und zeigt die Kernfusion als eine vielversprechende Energiequelle der naher Zukunft auf. Das Neutronenlabor der TUD, in dem die TPNS aufgebaut ist, wird ebenfalls kurz vorgestellt. Der zweite Teil befasst sich mit der TPNS selbst, mit ihrem physikalischen Entwurf, der Konstruktion und dem Aufbau bis zu der Inbetriebnahme sowie dem ersten Experiment an der TPNS. Der letzte, dritte Teil ist die Zusammenfassung der vorhandenen Ergebnisse und gibt einen Ausblick auf die zukünftige Vorhaben. / The Institute for Nuclear and Particle Physics at the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) has build a neutron physics laboratory at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD) to investigate nuclear processes in materials. The experiments are focused on materials relevant to nuclear fusion. The laboratory is equipped with three intensive neutron sources. The first is a 14 MeV monochromatic neutron source based on the DT reaction (owned by TUD); the other two are continuous and pulsed white photoneutron sources based on (γ,xn) reactions. One pulsed photoneutron source is realized by FZD in cooperation with the TUD. The continuous photoneutron source utilises a tungsten radiator (Tungsten Photoneutron Source) to produce neutrons with a wide energy spectra. The TPNS uses the ELBE-accelerator as a source of electrons for neutron production. This process involves an intermediate step, where slowed down electrons produce bremsstrahlung (γ -rays) absorbed by tungsten nuclei. Consecutively, the excited nuclei emit neutrons. The neutron flux of the photoneutron source is five orders of magnitude higher than the flux of the DT neutron sources with appropriate moderation. The neutron spectrum of TPNS can be modified by moderators, in such a way that the spectrum is comparable to that in the first wall of a Tokamak-Reactor. That allows investigations with the typical neutron spectrum of the fusion reactor. The technical solution, initial operation and the first experiment are described in this work. The neutron source is, in particular, dedicated to quantitative investigations in fusion neutronics. A fusion reactor produces radioactive isotopes as a nuclear waste. The main activity is accumulated in the structural materials. Carefully selected structural materials can significantly minimize the activity and thereby the amount of nuclear waste. The purpose of this project is to find constructional materials with half-lives shorter than several years, which can be recycled after about 100 years. The work is divided into three parts. The first part is dedicated to the energy supply problem and nuclear fusion is addressed as a promising solution of the near future. The neutron laboratory housing the TPNS is also briefly described. The second part deals with the tungsten photoneutron source, the design, construction, operation and the first experiments for neutron production. The third part summarises results and presents an outlook for future experiments with the TPNS.

La tesi cerca di rispondere alla domanda: 'La libanese intifadha al-Iqtad poteva essere prevista?'. la tesi prima definisce l'evento politico, e. Successivamente esamina le condizioni epistemologiche in base alle quali una predizione del futuro possa essere considerata scientifica. In terzo luogo, propone uno schema di previsione organizzato in funzione del coinvolgimento degli agenti nella creazione della storia umana. Infine, analizza la intifadha al-Iqtad in base allo schema analitico proposto. / The thesis aims to answer the question 'could the Lebanese Intifadha al-Iqtad have been predicted?' In order to do so, it first of all tries to define the political event, in terms of features, dynamic, and outcome. Secondly, it outlines the epistemological assumptions on which a scientific prediction of the future could be based. Thirdly, it puts forward a framework for foreseeing the future organised on different levels and divided into macro-categories. Finally, it analyses the Lebanese Intifadha al-Iqtad according to the proposed framework.

Questo lavoro analizza le relazioni tra Stati Uniti ed alleati europei dal 1989 ad oggi, con particolare approfondimento del periodo successivo all'undici settembre 2001. L'ipotesi di ricerca è basata sulla convinzione che gli attentati del 2001 abbiano avuto un impatto fondamentale sulla relazione euro-atlantica, accelerando tendenze centrifughe già presenti nel rapporto. La tesi è composta da un'analisi storica, da sette capitoli e dalle conclusioni. L'analisi storica esamina i cambiamenti strutturali nella relazione transatlantica dopo il 1989. I capitoli 1 e 2 presentano le correnti politiche determinanti nel formulare la politica estera americana dopo il 2001, con particolare riferimento al movimento neoconservatore. I capitoli 3 e 4 analizzano la definizione di impero moderno , la questione se gli Stati Uniti siano o meno un impero e la possibilità che l'Unione europea (UE) diventi una superpotenza. I capitoli 5, 6 e 7 approfondiscono tre nodi gordiani : il futuro della NATO; la Russia tra Stati Uniti e UE; e la relazione triangolare tra Stati Uniti, Cina e UE. Infine, le conclusioni riassumono le debolezze del rapporto tra Stati Uniti ed alleati europei, evidenziano come esse siano peggiorate dopo gli attentati del 2001 e presentano i pericoli in cui la relazione potrebbe incorrere in futuro. / This dissertation studies the relationship between the United States and its European allies from the end of the Cold War to the present, with a focus on the period following the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. The primary conclusion is that 9/11 accelerated divisive trends within transatlantic alliance. The dissertation has an historical introduction, seven chapters and the conclusions. The historical introduction analyzes the structural changes occurred within the transatlantic relationship after 1989. Chapters 1 and 2 discuss the political movements and ideas that shaped American foreign policy after 9/11, with a focus on the neoconservative movement. Chapters 3 and 4 define the idea of modern empire ; its use in reference to the United States; and the idea that the European Union is becoming a superpower able to counterbalance the United States. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 focus on three looming challenges within the transatlantic relationship: the future of NATO; relations with Russia; and the rise of China. The conclusions summarize the weaknesses of the relationship between the United States and its European allies; highlight how they deteriorated after 9/11; and describe the dangers that lay ahead for the transatlantic alliance.

I en hårdnande marknad för tillverkande industrier krävs det att förbättringar och effektiviseringar av produktionen hela tiden prioriteras, det gäller även Scanias växellådstillverkning. I takt med att antalet växellådsvarianter ökar, ökar utmaningarna kopplat till styrning och planering av produktion. Denna studie syftar till att ta fram ett förslag på det bästa sättet att styra produktionsflödet genom testningen av växellådor i de testriggar som finns samt att ge ett förslag på hur uppföljningen av produktionen ska gå till. Syftet mynnade ut i en teoretisk och en praktisk frågeställning. Den teoretiska frågeställningen behandlar sekvenseringen, vilka mätetal som ska användas i produktionen och hur de ska presenteras samt om takttid eller cykeltid ska användas som styrningsmetod vid testriggarna. Den praktiska formuleringen behandlade de praktiska hinder som uppstår vid de existerande systemen på grund av de nya förslagen. Studien avgränsade sig från implementering av förslagen. För att uppfylla syftet och besvara frågeställningarna skapades två simuleringsprogram i Python som undersökte sekvenseringen och jämförde takttid och cykeltid som styrningsmetod för testriggarna. Verklig data från produktionen användes för att kunna simulera skillnaderna mellan styrningsförslagen på ett tillförlitligt sätt. I testriggarna utförs arbetet av maskin och operatör parallellt med varandra. Simuleringsprogrammen fokuserade främst på maskinarbetet, därför utfördes kompletterande tidsstudier över operatörsarbetet vid testriggarna. För att få ytterligare perspektiv gjordes dessutom två benchmark i form av besök vid motortillverkningen och bearbetningen av pinjonger och kronhjul på Scania i Södertälje. Studien visade att cykeltidsstyrning är att föredra framför takttidsstyrning vid testriggarna. Vid en övergång från takttidsstyrning till cykeltidsstyrning kommer kapaciteten att förbättras och stopptidsmätningarna bli mer tillförlitliga. De fördelar som annars finns vid en takttidsstyrning fungerar inte vid testriggarna på grund av hur de är utformade. Den stora variationen i cykeltider vid testriggarna medför stora problem vid en takttidsstyrning. Från operatörstidmätningen framgick att det går att förbättra arbetet med standardiserat arbetssätt. Simuleringsprogrammet för sekvenseringen visade att en förbättrad sekvens inte ger något i nuläget, men att det kan komma att förändras framöver. Nya mätetal definierades, både i den dagliga produktionen och för vidare analys i ett IT-system. Framförallt utvecklades mätetal för stopptid som även visar vad för typ av stopptid som uppkommer.

Questo studio si propone di esplorare i paradossi esistenti nell’offerta di prodotti alimentari sostenibili e, di conseguenza, i comportamenti (strategie di coping) (Lazarus e Folkman, 1984) adottati dai consumatori al momento di tale percezione. A questo scopo abbiamo adattato il modello concettuale di Mick e Fournier (1998), sviluppato inizialmente per i paradossi delle tecnologie moderne, al contesto dell’Alimentazione sostenibile. A livello metodologico, è stata realizzata un’inchiesta qualitativa presso 84 individui “ordinari” (non militanti) in Francia e Italia. In più, sono stati interrogati 18 soggetti (individui militanti) che fanno abitualmente i loro acquisti presso la rete dell’AMAP, in Francia, e dei GAS in Italia. Le interviste semi-strutturate hanno permesso di mettere in luce delle differenze tra i consumatori “ordinari” dei due Paesi da un punto di vista delle strategie di coping evocate per superare i paradossi percepiti. Così abbiamo proposto tre profili di consumatori “ordinari”. Al contrario gli individui militanti si avverano come un gruppo più omogeneo tra i due contesti d’indagine, sia a livello di percezione di paradossi sia nell’adozione di pratiche sostenibili. La ricerca ha, altresì, evidenziato delle caratteristiche più specifiche alle due nazioni, per esempio a livello della struttura di mercato, della comunicazione sui prodotti sostenibili, nonché nell’ottica delle caratteristiche socioculturali. Pertanto questo studio ha avuto tre obiettivi: teorico al fine di verificare i paradossi elencati e le strategie di coping adottate dai consumatori francesi e italiani; metodologico adattando gli “ingranaggi” del modello concettuale di Mick e Fournier (1998) al contesto specifico di ricerca; e poi pratici allo scopo di distinguere degli elementi frenanti la diffusione dell’offerta sostenibile e altri che possano favorire lo sviluppo di un consumo sostenibile in ciascun Paese, come attraverso un’offerta più mirata agli aspetti ambientali in Francia ("filière nord/nord" di agricoltori francesi equo-solidali, biologici e locali) e delle produzioni più legate agli aspetti etici in Italia (ex. prodotti di economie solidali). / This study aims to explore existing paradoxes in the offer of food sustainable products and consequently consumers’ behaviours (coping strategies) (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984) at the time of this perception. For this purpose, the theoretical model of Mick and Fournier (1998), built initially for studying the paradoxes of modern technologies, were adapted to sustainable food consumption. At methodological level, a qualitative survey was conducted among 84 “ordinary” consumers in France and Italy. Later other 18 subjects, usually involved into sustainable purchases (participants of AMAP, GAS), were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews shed light on some differences between “ordinary” consumers of the two countries when they adopted coping strategies to go beyond perceived paradoxes. Thus we proposed three ordinary consumers’ profiles. On the contrary engaged individuals are like a more homogeny group going over national boundaries. They agree with paradoxes and sustainable practices. In addition, the research pointed out some divergent aspects connected with specific context, for instance market of sustainable food products, communication over this offer and social cultural characteristics. Finally, this work had three objectives: theoretical to verify the paradoxes listed and evocated consumers’ strategies by French and Italian consumers; methodological regarding the adaptation of the conceptual model “gears” of Mick et Fournier (1998) to the context of sustainable consumption; and then practical ones such as identification of barriers for developing sustainable consumption and specific possible ways of growth: more attention to environmental aspects in France (“filière nord/nord” of organic, fairly, local French peasants) and ethics products in Italy (products issued from social economies).

In this thesis, the focus is on studying BaZrO3-BaCeO3 based proton conductors due to that they represent very promising proton conductors to be used for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (ITSOFCs). Here, dense BaZr0.5Ce0.3Y0.2O3-δ (BZCY532) ceramics were selected as the major studied materials. These ceramics were prepared by different sintering methods and doping strategies. Based on achieved results, the thesis work can simply be divided into the following parts: 1) An improved synthesis method, which included a water-based milling procedure followed by a freeze-drying post-processing, was presented. A lowered calcination and sintering temperature for a Hf0.7Y0.3O2-δ (YSH) compound was achieved. The value of the relative density in this work was higher than previously reported data. It is also concluded that this improved method can be used for mass-production of ceramics. 2) As the solid-state reactive sintering (SSRS) represent a cost-effective sintering method, the sintering behaviors of proton conductors BaZrxCe0.8-xLn0.2O3-δ (x = 0.8, 0.5, 0.1; Ln = Y, Sm, Gd, Dy) during the SSRS process were investigated. According to the obtained results, it was found that the sintering temperature will decrease, when the Ce content increases from 0 (BZCLn802) to 0.3 (BZCLn532) and 0.7 (BZCLn172). Moreover, the radii of the dopant ions similar to the radii of Zr4+ or Ce4+ ions show a better sinterability. This means that it is possible to obtain dense ceramics at a lower temperature. Moreover, the conductivities of dense BZCLn532 ceramics were determined. The conductivity data indicate that dense BZCY532 ceramics are good candidates as either oxygen ion conductors or proton conductors used for ITSOFCs. 3) The effect of NiO on the sintering behaviors, morphologies and conductivities of BZCY532 based electrolytes were systematically investigated. According to the achieved results, it can be concluded that the dense BZCY532B ceramics (NiO was added during ball-milling before a powder mixture calcination) show an enhanced oxygen and proton conductivity. Also, that BZCY532A (NiO was added after a powder mixture calcination) and BZCY532N (No NiO was added in the whole preparation procedures) showed lower values. In addition, dense BZCY532B and BZCY532N ceramics showed only small electronic conductivities, when the testing temperature was lower than 800 ℃. However, the BZCY532A ceramics revealed an obvious electronic conduction, when they were tested in the range of 600 ℃ to 800 ℃. Therefore, it is preferable to add the NiO powder during the BZCY532 powder preparation, which can lower the sintering temperature and also increase the conductivity. 4) Dense BZCY532 ceramics were successfully prepared by using the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method at a temperature of 1350 ℃ with a holding time of 5 min. It was found that a lower sintering temperature (&lt; 1400 ℃) and a very fast cooling rate (&gt; 200 ℃/min) are two key parameters to prepare dense BZCY532 ceramics. These results confirm that the SPS technique represents a feasible and cost-effective sintering method to prepare dense Ce-containing BaZrO3-BaCeO3 based proton conductors. 5) Finally, a preliminary study for preparation of Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-δ (SDC) and BZCY532 basedcomposite electrolytes was carried out. The novel SDC-BZCY532 based composite electrolytes were prepared by using the powder mixing and co-sintering method. The sintering behaviors, morphologies and ionic conductivities of the composite electrolytes were investigated. The obtained results show that the composite electrolyte with a composition of 60SDC-40BZCY532 has the highest conductivity. In contrast, the composite electrolyte with a composition of 40SDC-60BZCY532 shows the lowest conductivity. In summary, the results show that BaZrO3-BaCeO3 based proton-conducting ceramic materials represent very promising materials for future ITSOFCs electrolyte applications. / <p>QC 20150423</p>