The present research describes the results of Raman spectroscopic study of undoped and Y-doped SrZrO 3 having a great potential for application in proton-conducting fuel cells. Effects of yttrium doping and strontium nonstoichiometry on the local environment of cations and vibrational properties of strontium zirconate were investigated. Ceramic samples SryZr1-xYxO3-d (x = 0, 0.02, 0.05; y = 0.94, 0.98, 1.00) were synthesized via a chemical solution method and sintered at 1650°C.
Microstructure, phase and chemical composition of the samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Analysis of Raman spectra peculiarities upon changes in Sr- and Y- concentrations has shown that yttrium ions can be partitioned over both A- and B-sites in the strontium-deficient zirconates with the dopant concentrations more than 2 at%.