Electrospinning processing and microstructural characterization of Ce_(0.78)Gd_(0.2)Sr_(0.02)O_(2-δ) fiber for a composite anode

摘要

Fabrication of a fiber anode with a mixture of the Gd_2O_3 and SrO co-doped ceria fibers and the Ni nano-catalyzer by using electrospinning and impregnated process were carried out for application in an intermediate temperature fuel cell (ITFC). Experimental results demonstrate that a uniform co-doped ceria fiber of 100 nm diameter could be spun at the concentration of PVP approximately 11.32 wt.% and electric field of 20 kV. The anodic films were prepared via a nickel wet dipping process and sintered at different temperatures. The micrograph of the anode sintered at 1200°C for 1hr has a well defined microstructure in terms of electrolyte area covered with nickel and the triple phase boundary (TPB) between electrolyte, electrode and gas phase. Fiber anode exhibits low polarization resistance and high exchange current density due to formation of the reticular nano-fiber structure. Accordingly, using a new concept of combination of the nano-ceramic Jlber and the Ni nano-particle for increasing the catalytic properties of anode is successfully proved, it is found that nano-fiber substituting to powder in anode could decrease the processing temperature of cell and maintain the porous structure of anode to increase the amount of TPB and restrain formation of agglomerates of nickel particles.