Preparation of Matrix‐Type Nickel Oxide/Samarium‐Doped Ceria Composite Particles by Spray Pyrolysis

Abstract

Matrix‐type nickel oxide (NiO)/samarium‐doped ceria (SDC) composite particles, in which NiO and SDC nano‐particles were homogeneously dispersed, were synthesized by spray pyrolysis (SP) for an anode precursor of intermediate‐temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT‐SOFCs). SP of an aqueous solution containing Ni, Ce, and Sm salts resulted in capsule‐type composite particles that had NiO enveloped with SDC. The capsule‐type composite particles actually prevent Ni aggregation between particles, but they cannot have a large contact area between nickel (Ni) and SDC. A matrix‐type composite particle is expected to have a large contact area because the matrix‐type composite is comprised of nanometer‐sized Ni and SDC particles. An adequate addition of ethylene glycol successfully resulted in matrix‐type NiO/SDC composite particles. The matrix‐type composite particles also showed higher anode performance than the capsule‐type composite particles in these experiments and they were effective as precursors of high‐performance IT‐SOFC anodes.