Chemical Properties
Barium zirconate (BaZrO₃) is a light gray-buff powder. It is insoluble in water and alkalis, and slightly soluble in acids. It is used in the manufacture of white, easily colored silicone rubber compounds that exhibit good heat stability at temperatures up to 500 °F (approximately 260 °C), as well as in electronics applications.
Uses
Barium zirconium oxide is involved in the preparation of its nano powder, which finds application in the gas sensing performance of thick films especially with ammonia gas. Copper(II) oxide doping with yttrium-doped barium zirconate is used as an electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cell.
Application
Barium zirconate proton exchange membrane fuel cells and electrolyzer cells exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance and stability. They demonstrate high Faraday efficiency and exceptional stability within a temperature range of 450 to 600 degrees Celsius, under water vapor partial pressures of 0.5 to 0.7 atmospheres, and at high electrolyzer current densities of 0.5 to 2.0 amperes per square centimeter. These properties confer significant advantages over conventional barium cerate electrolytes.
Flammability and Explosibility
Not classified
reaction suitability
reagent type: catalyst
core: zirconium
Safety Profile
Moderately toxic by
ingestion and intraperitoneal routes.
Inhalation produces interstitial pneumonitis.
See also ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS and
BARIUM COMPOUNDS.
References
[1] WEI TANG. Sintering protonic zirconate cells with enhanced electrolysis stability and Faradaic efficiency[J]. Nature synthesis, 2025, 4 5: 592-602. DOI:
10.1038/s44160-025-00765-z.
[2] PETER BABILO S. H T Uda. Processing of yttrium-doped barium zirconate for high proton conductivity[J]. International Journal of Materials Research, 2007, 6 1: 1322-1330. DOI:
10.1557/JMR.2007.0163.
[3] DR. DONGLIN HAN. Detrimental Effect of Sintering Additives on Conducting Ceramics: Yttrium-Doped Barium Zirconate[J]. ChemSusChem, 2018, 11 23: 4102-4113. DOI:
10.1002/cssc.201801837.
[4] YOSHIHIRO YAMAZAKI Sossina M H Raul Hernandez Sanchez. High Total Proton Conductivity in Large-Grained Yttrium-Doped Barium Zirconate[J]. Chemistry of Materials, 2009, 21 13: 2755-2762. DOI:10.1021/cm900208w.
