Study on the correlation between Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Ni-YSZ anode performance and reduction temperature

Abstract

The influences of reduction temperature on the initial performance and shorttime durability of nickel-yttria-stabilized zirconia composite solid oxide fuel cell anode were investigated. Anode microstructures before and after operation were quantitatively analyzed by three-dimensional reconstruction based on focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy technique. The anode reduced at 500 oC showed the worst initial performance and stability in operation and the anode reduced at 800 oC showed the smallest polarization resistance. The anode reduced at 1000 oC showed the most stable performance with polarization resistance enhanced with operation. It is found that higher reduction temperature leads to dense nickel and enhances nickel-yttria-stabilized-zirconia interfacial bonding, which can inhibit nickel sintering and improve the composite anode stability in long-time operation.