Synthesis and characterisation of cermet anodes for SOFCs with a proton-conducting ceramic phase

Cermet anodes of Ni-CaZr0.95Y0.05O2.975 (Ni-CZY) and Ni-SrZr0.95Y0.05O2..975 (Ni-SZY) have been synthesised by combustion followed by sintering and reduction to Ni metal. The anodes were co-pressed and co-sintered on green YSZ electrolyte to produce anode/electrolyte/anode assemblies with planar electrodes of thickness, ca. 150 μm. The anode microstructures are composed of a uniform and homogeneous distribution of submicron Ni metal and ceramic phases. Preliminary impedance spectroscopy results on symmetrical cells indicate that the polarization resistance is composed of two or more pH2O-sensitive contributions and is dependent on the composition of the proton-conducting ceramic.