Redox Stable Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Ni-YSZ Cermet Anodes Prepared by Polymeric Precursor Infiltration

Abstract

Redox stable SOFCs with Ni-YSZ cermet anodes were developed for electrolyte supported design (electrolyte thickness: 170 μm). Redox stable Ni-YSZ anode was prepared by infiltrating polymeric NiO precursor into pre-sintered porous YSZ layer (∼10 μm thick) followed by reduction ex situ. Polymeric precursor infiltration technique yielded a Ni-YSZ cermet microstructure with nanosized Ni particles coating the surface of porous YSZ. Low temperature processing of nanostructured Ni-YSZ cermet resulted in the reduction of internal stresses between Ni/NiO coating and YSZ skeleton during the redox cycling process. Electrolyte supported SOFC prepared with Ni-infiltrated anode showed a power density of ∼0.315 Watt.cm−2 and a highly redox stable anode (reduction of power density less than 1% after 15 redox cycles) in humidified forming gas (10%H2–90%Ar).