Electrodeposition of Supported Gadolinium-Doped Ceria Solid Solution Nanowires

Abstract

Gadolinium-ceria solid solution nanowires with tunable composition have been prepared through template cathodic electrodeposition from solutions containing Ce3+/Gd3+ in a variable ratio. The employed template is Porous Anodic Alumina because it can function as thermal resistant separator supporting the nanowires if used as ionic conductor in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). Scanning Electron Microscopy of the deposited nanostructures revealed that the use of ethanol as solvent and metal chloride as electrolyte allowed to prepare continuous, compact and well defined nanowires with morphological features stable even after thermal treatment. EDX compositional analysis confirms the presence of both Ce and Gd in the nanowires with an atomic ratio very close to the Ce/Gd in the electrodeposition bath. X-ray diffraction analysis and Raman Spectroscopy revealed the formation of a solid solution of Gd-Ce oxide nanowires.