Performance of GDC-Impregnated Ni Anodes of SOFCs

摘要

Ni electrodes impregnated with nanosized electrocatalytic active (Gd, Ce)O_2 (GDC) particles were fabricated and investigated as anodes for H2 oxidation reaction in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Incorporation of nanosized ionic conducting GDC particles significantly reduced the electrode interface resistance and polarization potential. With the impregnation of 8.5 vol percent GDC in Ni anodes, the electrode interface resistance was 0.71 OMEGA cm~2 at 800 deg C, close to the good performance value of 0.24 OMEGA cm~2 reported on Ni (50 vol percent)/YSZ (50 vol percent) cermet anodes at the same temperature. Nanosized GDC particles were deposited on the surface of Ni grains, forming a thin and uniform GDC layer. Such a unique microstructure shows a potential application as direct methane oxidation anodes for SOFCs based on natural gas fuel.