Investigation of novel zirconium based perovskite-type mixed conducting membranes for oxygen separation

A series of BaZr_0.2Co_0.8−xFe_xO_3−δ materials for oxygen separation were synthesized through a citric and ED-TA acid combined complexing method, and their crystal structures, oxygen permeabilities, sintering and sealing abilities were investigated. The results showed that the cubic perovskite structure was formed for materials in the composition range investigated. Oxygen permeation flux and stability, as well as sintering and sealing abilities of the synthesized materials were increased or improved apparently due to the introduction of zirconium. For example, the oxygen permeation flux reached 0.8 mL/min · cm² whenx = 0.2 or 0.3 at 950 C, and a stable time-related oxygen permeation flux was found for the BaZr_0.2Co_0.3Fe_0.5O_3−δ membrane at 800 °C.