Research On Preparation Approaches Of Anode-Supported Zirconia Electrolyte Films

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an energy conversion device that produces electricity by direct conversion of the chemical energy of the fuel. It has lots of advantages, such as high efficiency, environmental protection, and etc., which lead to the potential application of commercialization. Yttria-stabilized zirconia, YSZ, is the most successful electrolyte material at present, which possesses perfect performances together. For the purpose of lowering the operating temperature from the conventional high temperature zone (~1000°C) to low-to-intermediate temperature zone (500-800°C), it is desirable to fabricate anode-supported cells based on YSZ films with a thickness of a few microns. At the same time, a good sintering matching of the anode and electrolyte is needed to avoid cracks formation in the films. A suitable process to synthesize fine NiO particle is thus required, which would be then used to prepare the suitable NiO-YSZ anode. Afterwards, researches on film coating approaches would be carried out and finally be proficiently gained.Nano particle sized NiO powders were synthesized via nitrate-ammonia precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the as-prepared powders possessed a pure phase of cubic halite structure. The powder has an average particle size of ~23 nm. NiO-YSZ anode was then prepared using the nano-NiO powders. Linear shrinkage of the anode at high temperature was ~6% smaller than the YSZ electrolyte. Resistance of the anode measured during reduction in H2 air showed that the anode could be totally reduced at 700°C in 10 min, with a conductivity of ~570 S/cm. A layer of YSZ with a thickness of ~12μm was coated on the anode by centrifugal casting, and they cohered well at the interface in view of the SEM. With Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC)-impregnated La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSM) cathodes,...