Barium Cerium Yttrium Zirconate (BaCe(1-x-y)YrxZry) – Supplier & Manufacturer in USA

Barium Cerium Yttrium Zirconate

Barium Cerium Yttrium Zirconate sputtering targets, supplied by Infinita Materials, are precision-fabricated ceramic sources of a yttrium-doped barium cerate-zirconate perovskite, the leading materials family for proton-conducting electrolytes in protonic ceramic fuel cells and electrolysers. Formulated to combine the high protonic conductivity of barium cerate with the chemical and mechanical robustness of barium zirconate, these targets enable reproducible thin-film deposition of dense, phase-pure BCZY layers by RF and DC magnetron sputtering. Each target is manufactured to controlled stoichiometry and density for stable, drift-free deposition across production runs.

Purity (%) :	>99.9
Dimensions :	Dia. 1”, Thick. 0.125” Dia. 2”, Thick. 0.25”

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Introduction to Barium Cerium Yttrium Zirconate

Barium Cerium Yttrium Zirconate (BCZY/BZCY) is a proton-conducting perovskite oxide with the general composition BaCe₁₋ₓ₋ᵧZrᵧYₓO₃₋δ, where Y³⁺ substitution for Ce⁴⁺/Zr⁴⁺ creates oxygen vacancies that incorporate protons under humid conditions. Cerium enhances proton and oxide-ion conductivity, while zirconium improves chemical stability, sinterability, and resistance to CO₂ and H₂O degradation. As a sputtering target, dense stoichiometric BCZY enables precise composition and thickness control for thin, gas-tight electrolyte layers with low ohmic resistance. RF or pulsed-DC magnetron sputtering is used to deposit BCZY films for intermediate-temperature protonic ceramic fuel cells and electrolysers, hydrogen and humidity sensors, and research into proton-conducting perovskite defect chemistry.

FAQs

Question: What are the key benefits of using BaCe₁₋ₓ₋ᵧYrxZry as a sputtering target?

Answer: The main benefits of BaCe₁₋ₓ₋ᵧYrxZry as a sputtering target include its ability to produce films with excellent ionic conductivity, high-temperature stability, and good chemical resistance.

Question: What types of films are produced using BaCe₁₋ₓ₋ᵧYrxZry sputtering targets?

Answer: BaCe₁₋ₓ₋ᵧYrxZry sputtering targets create thin films that exhibit high ionic conductivity, chemical stability, and electrochemical properties.

Question: Can BaCe₁₋ₓ₋ᵧYrxZry sputtering targets be used in reactive sputtering processes?

Answer: Yes, BaCe₁₋ₓ₋ᵧYrxZry sputtering targets can be used in reactive sputtering processes.

Question: What sputtering conditions are recommended for this target?

Answer: Both RF and DC magnetron sputtering are used, typically with elastomer or indium bonding to the backing plate; process parameters such as oxygen partial pressure and substrate temperature should be optimized to obtain phase-pure, dense perovskite films and are best established for the specific deposition system in use.

Introduction to Barium Cerium Yttrium Zirconate

Property	Value	Significance
Crystal Structure	Cubic to orthorhombic perovskite (ABO3), space group typically Pm-3m or Pnma depending on composition and temperature	Governs oxygen-vacancy site geometry and proton mobility pathways
Chemical Formula	BaCe0.7Zr0.1Y0.2O3-delta	Y-doped Ce-rich barium cerate-zirconate solid solution; delta denotes oxygen non-stoichiometry from acceptor doping
Molar Mass	~310.31 g/mol	Basis for stoichiometric weighing and target fabrication mass balance calculations
Theoretical Density	~6.2 g/cm3	Reference value for evaluating sintered target and sputtered film densification
Proton Conductivity	~1e-3 to 1e-2 S/cm at 500-600C in wet atmosphere (composition dependent)	Primary performance metric for protonic ceramic fuel cell and electrolyser electrolytes
Chemical Stability	Improved resistance to CO2 and H2O attack relative to undoped BaCeO3, due to Zr substitution	Determines long-term durability against carbonate and hydroxide formation in service
Operating Temperature Range	~400-700C (intermediate temperature regime)	Enables intermediate-temperature solid oxide and protonic ceramic cell operation below classical YSZ-based SOFC temperatures
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	~10-11 x10^-6 /K	Must be matched to electrode and interconnect materials to avoid delamination on thermal cycling

Property

Value

Significance

Crystal Structure

Cubic to orthorhombic perovskite (ABO3), space group typically Pm-3m or Pnma depending on composition and temperature

Governs oxygen-vacancy site geometry and proton mobility pathways

Chemical Formula

BaCe0.7Zr0.1Y0.2O3-delta

Y-doped Ce-rich barium cerate-zirconate solid solution; delta denotes oxygen non-stoichiometry from acceptor doping

Molar Mass

~310.31 g/mol

Basis for stoichiometric weighing and target fabrication mass balance calculations

Theoretical Density

~6.2 g/cm3

Reference value for evaluating sintered target and sputtered film densification

Proton Conductivity

~1e-3 to 1e-2 S/cm at 500-600C in wet atmosphere (composition dependent)

Primary performance metric for protonic ceramic fuel cell and electrolyser electrolytes

Chemical Stability

Improved resistance to CO2 and H2O attack relative to undoped BaCeO3, due to Zr substitution

Determines long-term durability against carbonate and hydroxide formation in service

Operating Temperature Range

~400-700C (intermediate temperature regime)

Enables intermediate-temperature solid oxide and protonic ceramic cell operation below classical YSZ-based SOFC temperatures

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

~10-11 x10^-6 /K

Must be matched to electrode and interconnect materials to avoid delamination on thermal cycling

Grade / Form	Typical Purity	Key Features / Uses
Standard Target Grade	99.9%	General-purpose deposition for prototype PCFC/PCEC electrolyte and barrier layers
High-Purity Grade	99.99%	Reduced trace-metal contamination for repeatable conductivity and lower grain-boundary resistance
Research/Ultra-High-Purity Grade	99.999% (5N, on request)	Fundamental defect-chemistry and proton-transport studies requiring minimal background dopant interference
Custom-Stoichiometry Grade	99.9% – 99.99%	Tailored Ce:Zr:Y ratios across the BaCe(1-x-y)ZryYxO3 series to optimise conductivity versus stability for a specific application
Fine-Grain Deposition-Optimized Grade	99.9% – 99.99%	Controlled grain size and target density for uniform sputter erosion and reduced particulate generation in thin-film runs.

Grade / Form

Typical Purity

Key Features / Uses

Standard Target Grade

99.9%

General-purpose deposition for prototype PCFC/PCEC electrolyte and barrier layers

High-Purity Grade

99.99%

Reduced trace-metal contamination for repeatable conductivity and lower grain-boundary resistance

Research/Ultra-High-Purity Grade

99.999% (5N, on request)

Fundamental defect-chemistry and proton-transport studies requiring minimal background dopant interference

Custom-Stoichiometry Grade

99.9% – 99.99%

Tailored Ce:Zr:Y ratios across the BaCe(1-x-y)ZryYxO3 series to optimise conductivity versus stability for a specific application

Fine-Grain Deposition-Optimized Grade

99.9% – 99.99%

Controlled grain size and target density for uniform sputter erosion and reduced particulate generation in thin-film runs.

Industry	Application	Function
Clean Energy / Fuel Cells	Thin-film electrolyte layers in protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs)	Conducts protons between anode and cathode while blocking electronic and gas crossover
Hydrogen Technology	Protonic ceramic electrolyser cells (PCECs)	Serves as the solid electrolyte for electrochemical steam splitting to produce high-purity hydrogen
Sensors	Thin-film hydrogen and humidity sensors	Exploits proton conductivity to generate a measurable electrical response to hydrogen or water vapour concentration
Semiconductor & Materials Research	Model perovskite thin films for defect-chemistry studies	Provides a controlled platform for probing oxygen-vacancy and proton-defect behaviour via PVD
Academic & Government Research	Solid oxide and protonic ceramic device prototyping	Supplies reproducible target stock for laboratory-scale sputtered electrolyte and barrier-layer development
Coatings / Barrier Layers	Interlayer coatings between electrolyte and electrode in composite cell stacks	Suppresses interdiffusion and secondary-phase formation at electrode-electrolyte interfaces during cell operation

Industry

Application

Function

Clean Energy / Fuel Cells

Thin-film electrolyte layers in protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs)

Conducts protons between anode and cathode while blocking electronic and gas crossover

Hydrogen Technology

Protonic ceramic electrolyser cells (PCECs)

Serves as the solid electrolyte for electrochemical steam splitting to produce high-purity hydrogen

Sensors

Thin-film hydrogen and humidity sensors

Exploits proton conductivity to generate a measurable electrical response to hydrogen or water vapour concentration