Performance and electrode behaviour of nano-YSZ impregnated nickel anodes used in solid oxide fuel cells

The effect of impregnation of nano-sized Y2O3–ZrO2 (YSZ) particles into nickel anodes on the performance and electrode behaviour for the hydrogen oxidation reaction is investigated. Incorporation of nano-YSZ particles significantly reduces the electrode polarization resistance and overpotentials for the hydrogen oxidation reaction. Furthermore, the electrode behaviour for the hydrogen oxidation reaction on the nano-YSZ impregnated nickel anode is clearly differentiated at low and high frequencies. Impregnation of nano-YSZ particles primarily decreases the electrode polarization resistance at high frequencies, which indicates that the main role of the impregnated YSZ is to extend the three-phase boundary areas into the bulk of the nickel anode. The results suggest that the electrode process at low frequencies may be dominated by the dissociative adsorption of hydrogen.