Enhancing Anodic Catalytic Activity at High Fuel Utilization By Infiltration of Ni Nanoparticles

Abstract

The performance of SOFCs degrades with increasing fuel utilization, since the fuel oxidation reaction faces increased competition for the three-phase-boundary (TPB) sites in the anode from adsorbed water vapor species. Introduction of addition TPB sites by infiltration of Ni nanoparticles into the anode is an effective way to alleviate this problem. Both liquid and vapor phase infiltration of Ni nanoparticles into commercially available Ni/YSZ cermet anodes have been explored. The microstructure of the anode has been examined by µ-CT and FIB/SEM 3-D reconstructions. The cells have been electrochemically characterized by I-V and EIS techniques in a temperature range of 600°C-800°C. The infiltrated Ni nanoparticles have been characterized by image analysis of SEM micrographs from fracture cross-sections, before and after electrochemical testing. The effect of the nanoparticles on cell electrochemical performance as a function of temperature and anode input water vapor content, the stability of the nanoparticles, as well as the thermodynamics of vapor phase infiltration of Ni will be presented.