Performance and stability of SOFC anode fabricated from NiO/YSZ composite particles

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society Vol. 23; no. 15; pp. 2963 - 2967
• Main Authors: Fukui, Takehisa, Ohara, Satoshi, Naito, Makio, Nogi, Kiyoshi
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses; Ceramic industries; Cermets, ceramic and refractory composites; Chemical industry and chemicals; Composite particle; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electrical properties; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Materials science; Miscellaneous; Ni-YSZ; Other materials; Physics; Specific materials; Spray pyrolysis; Technical ceramics; Composite particle; Ni-YSZ; Spray pyrolysis; Electrical properties; Fuel cells; Ceramic matrix composite; Scanning electron microscopy; Pyrolysis; Coating material; Stability; Anode; Nickel Oxides; Spraying; Stabilized zirconia; Electrode material; Experimental study; Composite particles; Solid oxide fuel cell; Precursor; Oxide ceramics; Composite material; Coated material; Yttrium Oxides; Cermet; Morphology; Nickel; Manufacturing; Performance
• DOI: 10.1016/S0955-2219(03)00311-X
• ISSN: 0955-2219

NiO/YSZ composite particles with 20–35 mol% Y 2O 3 stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) were synthesized by the spray pyrolysis (SP) method. The NiO/YSZ composite particles showed morphology of NiO grains partially or fully covered with fine YSZ grains. The composite particles also had good interface connection between nickel oxide and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The morphology of the Ni/YSZ cermet anode fabricated from composite particles is noticeably influenced by the YSZ content of the composite particles. Ni/YSZ cermet anodes with 25 mol% YSZ show the highest electrochemical activity and lowest internal resistance (IR). The electrochemical activity and IR of the anode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) highly depend on the three-phase boundary structure based on the metal (Ni) and ceramic (YSZ) interface as well as the network structure of each Ni grains. Moreover, the cell voltage of a single cell with the Ni/YSZ cermet anode kept almost constant value during 7200 h of operation. Consequently, it is concluded that the performance and stability of the Ni/YSZ cermet anode is improved by controlling the morphology of the NiO/YSZ composite particles.