Nanostructured solid electrolytes and devices

An electrochemical device, comprising a nanostructured electrolytic structure having an first surface and a second surface, prepared by

• aggregating nanoscale particles of a ceramic electrolyte material to form the electrolytic structure;
• and
• sintering the electrolytic structure at a temperature sufficient to cause its densification, said temperature being less than 1000° C.,
• wherein an electrical potential is developed between the first and second surfaces when the first surface is exposed to a reference species and the second surface is exposed to an analyte species.

A solid electrolyte based device, comprising

• a nanostructured electrolytic structure, prepared by
• aggregating nanoscale particles of a ceramic electrolyte material to form the electrolytic structure;
• and
• sintering the electrolytic structure at a temperature sufficient to cause its densification, said temperature being less than 1000° C.,
• wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of an energy storage device, an energy generation device, a device for thermodynamic property measurements, a device for electrocatalysis, a device for electrosynthesis, a solid state chemical pump, and a chemical sensor.