NiO-SDC powder for solid oxide fuel cell anode applications by buffer solution method

NiO-Samaria-Doped-Ceria (NiO-SDC) composite powders with nanometer particle size were synthesized by an improved co-precipitation method, called the buffer solution method. NiO/SDC ceramics were then prepared from the NiO-SDC composite powders and were converted into Ni/SDC cermets, which were tested as the anode materials for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with SDC electrolytes. Microstructure observation showed that the NiO/SDC ceramics and Ni/SDC cermets fabricated from the NiO-SDC composite powders have more uniform and finer grain and pore size than those prepared from the mechanically mixed NiO-SDC powders, and the resulting Ni/SDC cermets also showed higher electrical conductivity than those of Ni/SDC cermets from the mechanically mixed NiO-SDC powders. Furthermore, SOFC based on the buffer solution Ni/SDC anodes exhibited higher open circuit voltage (OCV) and maximum power density.