Combustion synthesis and characterisation of Ni-MO-YSZ (M = Mg, Ca, Al2/3) cermet anodes for SOFCs

The performance of Ni-yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) cermet anodes can deteriorate with time and on redox and thermal cycling due to coarsening and/or oxidation of the Ni particles. Small additions of a second oxide phase may arrest degradation. In this work, Ni-YSZ-MO compositions (M = Mg, Ca, Al2/3, respectively, NZM, NZC, NZA) were prepared by combustion. Phase composition and microstructural characteristics were assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Powders calcined at 1450 °C consist of mixtures of Ni(Mg)O-YSZ, NiO-YSZ-CaZrO3 and NiO-YSZ-NiAl2O4 particles for NZM, NZC and NZA, respectively. The sintered and reduced cermets are composed of a homogeneous and well-dispersed distribution of Ni, YSZ and secondary oxide components.