No description available.

L'objectif de ce travail était l'étude systématique de composés de type BaSn1-xMxO3-d (M= Y, Gd, Sc, In, …) pour lesquels des propriétés de conduction protonique étaient attendues. Nous avons tout d'abord développé une méthode de synthèse originale par polymérisation d'acide acrylique qui nous a permis d'obtenir des poudres nanométriques pures, puis des céramiques denses après frittage. Nous avons ensuite étudié l'influence de la nature et de la teneur en dopant sur les propriétés structurales et électriques. Cette étude expérimentale a été couplée à la modélisation semi-empirique qui nous a permis de prédire les défauts les plus probables au sein de la phase. Les résultats montrent que le modèle de substitution est étroitement lié à la taille des cations substituant. Pour les petits cations, une substitution totale sur le site B est calculée et observée alors que, pour les plus grosses terres rares (La, Nd et Sm), la modélisation anticipe une substitution partielle possible sur le site A confirmée par une anomalie dans l'évolution des paramètres de maille. Concernant les propriétés électriques, nous n'avons pas observé de tendances claires de l'évolution des propriétés électriques en fonction de la nature du cation. Il semble malgré tout que les dopants les meilleurs correspondent à ceux pour lesquels l'énergie d'association lacune-dopant est la plus faible. Dans le cas de l'yttrium, la conduction augmente avec le taux de substitution ce qui peut être relié à la fois à l'augmentation associée du nombre de porteurs et à l'évolution microstructurale. Nous montrons également que le taux de dopant a une forte influence sur la stabilité des matériaux produits. Ainsi, les composés fortement dopés sont instables sous atmosphère humide, alors que les composés faiblement dopés semblent stables sous atmosphère humide, riches en H2 ou CO2. Finalement, nous avons montré que l'emploi de ZnO comme additif permettait d'abaisser fortement la température de frittage sans pour autant affecter les propriétés de transport. Cette étude a donc démontré que les composés de type BaSn1-xMxO3-d (M= Y, Gd, Sc, In, …) peuvent trouver des applications comme conducteurs protoniques pour peu que le taux de substituant soit limité pour des raisons de stabilité, que la taille de grains soit importante pour améliorer la conduction et le procédé de fabrication optimisé pour obtenir une forte densité. / The main objective of the present work was the systematic study of BaSn1-xMxO3-d (M = Y, Gd, Sc, In, …) as proton conductors. We first developed a synthesis route based on the acrylic acid polymerization. This allowed us obtaining pure nanopowders and dense ceramics after a classical sintering process. We then studied the influence of dopant nature and content on the structural and electrical properties. This study was coupled to theoretical calculations which helped us predicting the most probable defects within the structure. Results indicate that the substitution model is closely linked with dopant size. For small cations, the substitution on B-site occurs as foreseen by the original compound formula. For big cations (La, Nd and Sm), the modeling anticipates a possible partial substitution on A-site, confirmed by an anomaly observed on the evolution of cell parameters. Concerning electrical properties, we did not observe any significant trend as a function of dopant size. It seems nevertheless that best dopants in terms of anion or proton conduction are those presenting the smaller dopant-defect interaction energy as revealed by semi-empirical calculations. In the case of yttrium, the evolution of conduction with Y3+ content is linked both to the increase of charge carriers due to doping and to the increase of grain size with increasing dopant content. We also showed that the stability is strongly linked with the doping level. While highly doped compounds are unstable in humid atmosphere, slightly doped compounds present good stability in humid, hydrogen and CO2 containing atmosphere. Finally, we showed that ZnO as an additive could be used to lower the sintering temperature without changing the conduction properties. This study thus showed that BaSn1-xMxO3-d(M = Y, Gd, Sc, In, …) may find applications as proton conductors if dopant level is limited for stability reasons, grain size important for better conduction properties and the elaboration process optimised to ensure high density.

No description available.

The main objective of the present work was the systematic study of BaSn1-xMxO3-d (M = Y, Gd, Sc, In, ...) as proton conductors. We first developed a synthesis route based on the acrylic acid polymerization. This allowed us obtaining pure nanopowders and dense ceramics after a classical sintering process. We then studied the influence of dopant nature and content on the structural and electrical properties. This study was coupled to theoretical calculations which helped us predicting the most probable defects within the structure. Results indicate that the substitution model is closely linked with dopant size. For small cations, the substitution on B-site occurs as foreseen by the original compound formula. For big cations (La, Nd and Sm), the modeling anticipates a possible partial substitution on A-site, confirmed by an anomaly observed on the evolution of cell parameters. Concerning electrical properties, we did not observe any significant trend as a function of dopant size. It seems nevertheless that best dopants in terms of anion or proton conduction are those presenting the smaller dopant-defect interaction energy as revealed by semi-empirical calculations. In the case of yttrium, the evolution of conduction with Y3+ content is linked both to the increase of charge carriers due to doping and to the increase of grain size with increasing dopant content. We also showed that the stability is strongly linked with the doping level. While highly doped compounds are unstable in humid atmosphere, slightly doped compounds present good stability in humid, hydrogen and CO2 containing atmosphere. Finally, we showed that ZnO as an additive could be used to lower the sintering temperature without changing the conduction properties. This study thus showed that BaSn1-xMxO3-d(M = Y, Gd, Sc, In, ...) may find applications as proton conductors if dopant level is limited for stability reasons, grain size important for better conduction properties and the elaboration process optimised to ensure high density.

The main material studied in this project is silicon oxide phosphate, often referred to in the literature as Si₅O(PO₄)₆. This material has highly unusual coordination of the silicon (octahedral, as well as the more common tetrahedral). The structure is hexagonal, it has been assigned to space group R -3 and lattice parameters a ≈ 7.85 Å, c ≈ 24.14 Å. This work's main focus is on understanding the interplay between structure and properties in order to enhance protonic conductivity for a fuel cell electrolyte. Silicon oxide phosphate was synthesised with the solid-state method, using a gel precursor made from H₃PO₄, water and SiO₂. Various compositions were made with different P/Si starting ratios, ranging between 0.57 - 1.5. There were small but significant differences in the a,b axes for the different compositions that corresponded to conductivity behaviour of hydrothermally treated P-Si compositions. This correlation was also found to appear in ³¹P NMR for the chemical shift at - 44 ppm for untreated P-Si compositions as well as in the temperatures of the DTA peaks for the hydrothermally treated compositions. This all implies that this particular P-Si system with the addition of water becomes a ternary system that enables protonic conductivity. A proposed mechanism for the protonic conductivity is given where it is suggested that protons flow along the internal channels of the structure using two waters that provide dual pathways for protons. This is possible through utilization of a proton thought to be in the structure (a P_OH bond of 1.57 Å). Protonic conductivity could further be increased in the system by incorporating 85% H₃PO₄ in the P-Si materials, thus these materials act as matrices for the phosphoric acid. Another composition, Ge₅O(PO₄)₆ with 5% extra germanium, was hydrothermally treated and found to have protonic conductivity at higher temperatures than the silicon oxide phosphate analogues.

L'objectif principal de ce travail était l'étude systématique de plusieurs groupes de matériaux conducteurs protoniques: Gd₃₋ₓMeₓGaO₆₋₅ (Me = Ca²+, Sr²+), Ba₂Nb₁₋ₓY₁₊ₓO₆₋₅, et BaZr₀.₈₅Y₀.₁₅O₃₋₅ (BZY15). Nous avons développé une voie de synthèse pour chaque groupe de matériaux tels que le procédé de combustion sol-gel, la synthèse lyophilisation et le procédé de complexation de citrate-EDTA modifié des nanopoudres pures et des céramiques denses ont été obtenus après ces synthèses suives d'un processus de frittage classique. La structure et la composition des produits obtenues ont été caractérisées par diffraction des rayons X (XRD) et microscopie électronique à balayage (MEB). La variation de la conductivité en fonction de la température a été étudiée par spectroscopie d'impédance, ainsi que la dépendance en fonction de pO₂ et pH₂O. Pour la famille de Gd₃₋ₓMeₓGaO₆₋₅ (Me = Ca²+, Sr²+), nous avons étudié l'influence de la nature et la quantité de dopant sur les propriétés structurales et électriques. Les résultats indiquent une solution solide possible jusqu'à 10% de taux du substituant. Selon les observations au MEB, la taille des grains est augmente le taux de substitution. En ce qui concerne les propriétés électriques, nous avons constaté une augmentation de la conduction avec le taux de substitution. Tous les composés présentent une bonne stabilité en milieu humide, sous hydrogène et CO₂. Dans le cas des matériaux Ba₂Y₁₊ₓNb₁₋ₓO₆₋₅, les propriétés physico-chimiques des matériaux synthétisés ont été caractérisées par la diffraction des rayons X et par MEB. La taille moyenne des grains a considérablement augmenté avec l'augmentation du taux de Y³⁺. Les propriétés de conduction ont été légèrement améliorées avec la substitution partielle de niobium par l'yttrium. La stabilité de Ba₂Y₁₊ₓNb₁₋ₓO₆₋₅ composés a été étudiée sous différentes atmosphères et conditions. Les propriétés de conduction ionique restent modestes ce qui a été explique par des simulations de dynamique moléculaire. Enfin, nous avons étudié l'influence d'emploi d'un additif ZnO et NiO lors de la synthèse de BZY15, les adjuvants de frittage pouvant être utilisés pour abaisser la température de frittage. L'oxyde de zinc comme un adjuvant de frittage permet de diminuer de 300 °C la température de frittage et d'augmenter légèrement la conduction ionique. / The main objective of the present work was the systematic study of several groups of materials: Gd₃₋ₓMeₓGaO₆₋₅ (Me = Ca²+, Sr²+), Ba₂Nb₁₋ₓY₁₊ₓO₆₋₅, and BaZr₀.₈₅Y₀.₁₅O₃₋₅ (BZY15) as proton conductors. We developed a synthesis route for each group of materials such as sol-gel combustion method, freeze-drying synthesis and modified citrate-EDTA complexing method. Pure nanopowders and dense ceramics were obtained after these syntheses plus a classical sintering process. The structure and composition of the obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The temperature dependences of the conductivity were investigated by impedance spectroscopy as a function of pO₂ and pH₂O. For the family of Gd₃₋ₓMeₓGaO₆₋₅ (Me = Ca²+, Sr²+), we studied the influence of dopant nature and content on the structural and electrical properties. Results indicate that the substitution possible till 10 % of doping content. According to the SEM observations, the grain size is increased with increasing dopant content. Concerning electrical properties, we found an increase of conduction with increasing dopant content. All compounds present a good stability in humid, hydrogen and CO₂ containing atmosphere. In case of Ba₂Y₁₊ₓNb₁₋ₓO₆₋₅ materials, the physico-chemical properties of synthesized materials have been characterized by the XRD and SEM techniques. The average grain size increased significantly with increasing amount of Y³⁺. Conduction properties were slightly improved with the partial substitution of niobium by yttrium. The stability of Ba₂Y₁₊ₓNb₁₋ₓO₆₋₅ compounds was investigated under different atmospheres and conditions. The ionic conduction in this case is quite low, which has been explained by futher molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, we studied the influence of an ZnO and NiO additives on the sintering of BZY15, being these sintering aids used to lower the sintering temperature. Zinc oxide as a sintering aid lowers the sintering temperature by 300 °C and slightly increases the bulk and total conductivity of BZY15.