NiO-Ba_0.95Ca_0.05Ce_0.9Y_0.1O_3-δ as a Modified Anode Material Fabricated by the Tape Casting Method

The development of new chemically resistant anodes for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) is urgently required to avoid the costly deep hydrogen purification method. Ba_0.95Ca_0.05Ce_0.9Y_0.1O_3-δ (5CBCY), which is more chemically resistant than BaCaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3-δ, was here tested as a component of a composite NiO-5CBCY anode material. A preparation slurry comprising 5CBCY_, NiO, graphite, and an organic medium was tape cast, sintered and subjected to thermal treatment in 10 vol.% H₂ in Ar at 700 °C. Differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, quadrupole mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, the AC four-probe method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used for the investigation. The electrical conductivity of the Ni-5CBCY in H₂-Ar at 700 °C was 1.1 S/cm. In the same gas atmosphere but with an additional 5 vol.% CO₂, it was slightly lower, at 0.8 S/cm. The Ni-5CBCY cermet exhibited repeatable electrical conductivity values during Ni-to-NiO oxidation cycles and NiO-to-Ni reduction in the 5CBCY matrix, making it sufficient for preliminary testing in PCFCs.