First-Principles Thermodynamics of Coherent Interfaces in Samarium-Doped Ceria Nanoscale Superlattices

Abstract

Nanoscale superlattices of samarium-doped ceria layers with varying doping levels have been recently proposed as a novel fuel cell electrolyte. We calculate the equilibrium composition profile across the coherent $\{100\}$ interfaces present in this system using lattice-gas Monte Carlo simulations with long-range interactions determined from electrostatics and short-range interactions obtained from ab initio calculations. These simulations reveal the formation of a diffuse, nonmonotonic, and surprisingly wide (11 nm at 400 K) interface composition profile, despite the absence of space charge regions.