A comparative study of NiO–Ce 0.9Gd 0.1O 1.95 nanocomposite powders synthesized by hydroxide and oxalate co-precipitation methods

Abstract

In this study, NiO–Ce 0.9Gd 0.1O 1.95 (NiO–GDC) nanocomposite powders, which were applied as anode materials of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), were synthesized by hydroxide and oxalate reverse co-precipitation methods, respectively. The crystal phases, crystallite size, particle size, particle size distribution, and sintering characteristics of the synthesized NiO–GDC nanocomposite powders were investigated and compared. Results showed that the different co-precipitation methods affected strongly the synthesis and characteristics of the NiO–GDC nanocomposite powders. The NiO–GDC nanocomposite powders could be synthesized at lower temperature by the hydroxide reverse co-precipitation method, and the synthesized NiO–GDC nanocomposite powders had better sinterability. The NiO–GDC nanocomposite powders synthesized by the oxalate reverse co-precipitation method had smaller particle size and uniform particle size distribution and, however, were easy to result in crack formation in the sintered disks.