ELECTRODEPOSITED METAL NICKEL COATING ON FERRITIC STAINLESS STEEL FOR INTERMEDIATE TEMPERATURE SOFC INTERCONNECT APPLICATION

Ni coating was deposited on ferritic stainless steel by means of a cost-effective technique of electroplating method. The coated and bare steels were evaluated at 800 degrees C in air corresponding to the cathode environment of SOFC. Mass gain of the coated steel was higher than that of the bare steel. However, its oxidation rate was similar to that of the bare steel after early rapid oxidation stage. The surface and cross-section morphologies of the coated steel after thermal exposure were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The phase structures of oxide scale formed on them were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). NiO/(Ni,Fe)(3)O-4 outer layer with Cr2O3 inner layer were developed on the coated steel. The area specific resistance (ASR) of oxide scales was measured. The promising electrodeposited Ni coating as SOFC interconnect application was discussed.