CHARACTERIZATION OF NiO-BCZY COMPOSITE ANODE PREPARED BY ONE-STEP SOL-GEL METHOD

Abstract

NiO-BCZY composite anode has been proposed as a suitable anode material for the application in an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC). Recent studies show that the microstructure of the anode region is critical factor affected to SOFC performance. In this paper, NiO-BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.1O2.95 (NiO-BCZY) composite powders with different NiO-BCZY weight ratios (40:60 and 50:50 which are denoted as S1 and S2) were prepared by a one-step sol-gel method. The resultant powders were characterized by using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy/ energy-dispersive X-ray (FESEM/EDX). A well- developed single-phase perovskite-type of BCZY was observed in S1 and S2. Peaks of NiO were matched to the JCPDs card no. 010780643 and peaks of BCZY can be indexed to the compound of Ba(Ce,Zr)O3 (JCPDs card no. 010892485). The unit cell volume of BCZY in 40NiO-BCZY and 50NiO-BCZY composite were about 81.690Å3 and 81.464Å3 compared to standard Ba(Ce,Zr)O3 (V”=81.950 Å3). FESEM/EDX analysis shows a spherical shape powder with a uniform distribution of NiO and BCZY grains in S1 and S2. The elemental composition of both samples was not greatly deviated from their nominal stoichiometry.