Nanopowdered Ce1−xYbxO2−ı solid solutions (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) were synthesized by a self-propagating room
temperature synthesis. XRD and SEM were used to study the properties of these materials as well as the Yb
solubility in CeO2lattice. Results showed that all the obtained powders were solid solutions with a fluoritetype crystal structure and with nanometric particle size. The average size of Ce1−xYbxO2−ıparticles was
approximately 3 nm. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the sintered pellets depicted that it
was possible to separate Rbulkand Rgbin the temperature interval of 550–800
◦
C. The activation energy
for the bulk conduction was 1.03 eV and for grain boundary conduction was 1.14 eV. Grain boundary
resistivity dominates over the other resistivities. These measurements confirmed that Yb
3+
-doped CeO2
material had a potential as electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell applications