In this study, oxide materials La_1−xCa_xScO_3−α (x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10) were synthesized by the citric-nitrate combustion method. Single-phase solid solutions were obtained in the case of calcium content x = 0.03 and 0.05, whereas a calcium-enriched impurity phase was found at x = 0.10. Water uptake and release were studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis, thermodesorption spectroscopy and dilatometry. It was shown that lower calcium content in the main phase leads to a decrease in the water uptake. Conductivity was measured by four-probe direct current (DC) and two-probe ascension current (AC) methods at different temperatures, pO₂ and pH₂O. The effects of phase composition, microstructure and defect structure on electrical conductivity, as well as correlation between conductivity and water uptake experiments, were discussed. The contribution of ionic conductivity of La_1−xCa_xScO_3−α rises with decreasing temperature and increasing humidity. The domination of proton conductivity at temperatures below 500 °C under oxidizing and reducing atmospheres is exhibited. Water uptake and release as well as transport properties of La_1−xCa_xScO_3−α are compared with the properties of similar proton electrolytes, La_1−xSr_xScO_3−α, and the possible reasons for their differences were discussed.

The paper presents the results of an investigation into thin single- and triple-layer ZrO₂-Sc₂O₃-based electrolytes prepared using the tape-casting technique in combination with promising electrodes based on La₂NiO_4+δ and Ni-Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_2-δ materials. It is shown that pressing and joint sintering of single electrolyte layers allows multilayer structures to be obtained that are free of defects at the layer interface. Electrical conductivity measurements of a triple-layer electrolyte carried out in longitudinal and transverse directions with both direct and alternating current showed resistance of the interface between the layers on the total resistance of the electrolyte to be minimal. Long-term tests have shown that the greatest degradation in resistance over time occurs in the case of an electrolyte with a tetragonal structure. Symmetrical electrochemical cells with electrodes fabricated using a screen-printing method were examined by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The polarization resistance of the electrodes was 0.45 and 0.16 Ohm∙cm² at 800 °C for the fuel and oxygen electrodes, respectively. The distribution of relaxation times method was applied for impedance data analysis. During tests of a single solid oxide fuel cell comprising a supporting triple-layer electrolyte having a thickness of 300 microns, a power density of about 160 mW/cm² at 850 °C was obtained using wet hydrogen as fuel and air as an oxidizing gas.