Performances of Ni−SDC Hydrogen Electrodes in Reversible Operation Between SOEC and SOFC-Modes

Abstract

It was found recently that the durability of Ni‒Co dispersed on a samaria-doped ceria (SDC) hydrogen electrode was improved remarkably via reversible cycling operation between steam electrolysis and fuel cell-modes. The microstructure was observed to be stabilized, with certainty, due to a strong interaction between Ni‒Co and SDC. Aiming to develop a durable, practical hydrogen electrode with such a stabilized microstructure, we prepared new Ni–SDC H2 electrodes by a convenient protocol by the use of Ni nanoparticles with uniform size. The initial performance of the Ni–SDC H2 electrode thus prepared was comparable or slightly higher than that of our Ni‒Co dispersed SDC electrode prepared by an impregnation method.