Disclosed herein is a ceramic particle comprising a core substrate chosen from yttria-stabilized zirconia, partially stabilized zirconia, zirconium oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and cerium oxide, and a conformal coating of a sintering aid film having a thickness of less than three nanometers and covering the core substrate, and methods for producing the ceramic particle.

Disclosed herein is a ceramic particle comprising a core substrate chosen from yttria-stabilized zirconia, partially stabilized zirconia, zirconium oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and cerium oxide, and a conformal coating of a sintering aid film having a thickness of less than three nanometers and covering the core substrate, and methods for producing the ceramic particle.

A method of manufacturing by magnetron cathode sputtering an electrolyte film for use in solid oxide cells (SOC). This method comprises the steps consisting of heating a substrate to a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 1200° C.; followed by subjecting the substrate to at least two treatment cycles, each treatment cycle comprising: 1) depositing one layer of a metal precursor on the substrate by magnetron cathode sputtering of a target made up of the metal precursor, the sputtering being carried out under elemental sputtering conditions; followed by 2) oxidation-crystallisation of the metal precursor forming the layer deposited on the substrate in the presence of oxygen to obtain the transformation of the metal precursor into the electrolyte material; and in that the substrate is kept at a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 1200° C. for the entire duration of each treatment cycle.

A method of manufacturing by magnetron cathode sputtering an electrolyte film for use in solid oxide cells (SOC). This method comprises the steps consisting of heating a substrate to a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 1200° C.; followed by subjecting the substrate to at least two treatment cycles, each treatment cycle comprising: 1) depositing one layer of a metal precursor on the substrate by magnetron cathode sputtering of a target made up of the metal precursor, the sputtering being carried out under elemental sputtering conditions; followed by 2) oxidation-crystallisation of the metal precursor forming the layer deposited on the substrate in the presence of oxygen to obtain the transformation of the metal precursor into the electrolyte material; and in that the substrate is kept at a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 1200° C. for the entire duration of each treatment cycle.

A cerium-zirconium oxide-based ionic conductor (CZOIC) material including zirconium oxide in an amount ranging from 5 wt. % up to 95 wt. %, cerium oxide in an amount ranging from 95 wt. % to 5 wt. %, and at least one oxide or a rare earth metal in an amount ranging from 30 wt. % or less, based on the overall mass of the CZOIC material. The CZOIC material exhibits a structure comprising one or more expanded unit cells and a plurality of crystallites having ordered nano-domains. The structure of the CZOIC material exhibits a crystal lattice defined by a d-value measured at multiple (hkl) locations using a SAED technique that exhibit distortions, such that the d-values for the same (hkl) location varies from about 2% to about 5% from the d-value measured for a reference cerium-zirconium material at the same (hkl) location.

A cerium-zirconium oxide-based ionic conductor (CZOIC) material including zirconium oxide in an amount ranging from 5 wt. % up to 95 wt. %, cerium oxide in an amount ranging from 95 wt. % to 5 wt. %, and at least one oxide or a rare earth metal in an amount ranging from 30 wt. % or less, based on the overall mass of the CZOIC material. The CZOIC material exhibits a structure comprising one or more expanded unit cells and a plurality of crystallites having ordered nano-domains. The structure of the CZOIC material exhibits a crystal lattice defined by a d-value measured at multiple (hkl) locations using a SAED technique that exhibit distortions, such that the d-values for the same (hkl) location varies from about 2% to about 5% from the d-value measured for a reference cerium-zirconium material at the same (hkl) location.

Materials for electrochemical cells are provided. BaZr.sub.0.4Ce.sub.0.4M.sub.0.2O.sub.3 compounds, where M represents one or more rare earth elements, are provided for use as electrolytes. PrBa.sub.0.5Sr.sub.0.5Co.sub.2−xFe.sub.xO.sub.5+δ is provided for use as a cathode. Also provided are electrochemical cells, such as protonic ceramic fuel cells, incorporating the compounds as electrolytes and cathodes.

Materials for electrochemical cells are provided. BaZr.sub.0.4Ce.sub.0.4M.sub.0.2O.sub.3 compounds, where M represents one or more rare earth elements, are provided for use as electrolytes. PrBa.sub.0.5Sr.sub.0.5Co.sub.2−xFe.sub.xO.sub.5+δ is provided for use as a cathode. Also provided are electrochemical cells, such as protonic ceramic fuel cells, incorporating the compounds as electrolytes and cathodes.

A microgrid system includes first and second DC power sources electrically connected to respective first and second DC electrical power busses, a first uninterruptable power module electrically connected to the first DC electrical power bus and configured to be connected to an alternating current (AC) load, a second uninterruptable power module electrically connected to the second DC electrical power bus and configured to be connected to the AC load, a first bi-directional AC/DC inverter having a DC end and an AC end, where the first DC electrical power bus is connected to the DC end of the first bi-directional AC/DC inverter, a second bi-directional AC/DC inverter having DC and AC ends, where the second DC electrical power bus is connected to the DC end of the second bi-directional AC/DC inverter, and an AC electrical power bus electrically connected to the first and second bi-directional AC/DC inverters at their AC ends.

A microgrid system includes first and second DC power sources electrically connected to respective first and second DC electrical power busses, a first uninterruptable power module electrically connected to the first DC electrical power bus and configured to be connected to an alternating current (AC) load, a second uninterruptable power module electrically connected to the second DC electrical power bus and configured to be connected to the AC load, a first bi-directional AC/DC inverter having a DC end and an AC end, where the first DC electrical power bus is connected to the DC end of the first bi-directional AC/DC inverter, a second bi-directional AC/DC inverter having DC and AC ends, where the second DC electrical power bus is connected to the DC end of the second bi-directional AC/DC inverter, and an AC electrical power bus electrically connected to the first and second bi-directional AC/DC inverters at their AC ends.