Strong Metal Support Interactions of Infiltrated Ni with TiO 2 in a Porous YSZ Anode Matrix - A Possible Method for Ni-Stabilization

In earlier research, sintering of Ni infiltrated into porous anodes in SOFCs was responsible for loss in performance. The idea of introducing strong metal support interactions (SMSI) has been investigated as a possible method for curbing the sintering of Ni. Titania, when used as a support in catalysts, has been found to show SMSI behavior with metals, dispersed on its surface. Porous anodes, typically used as the SOFC support (anode supported cells), containing titania and Ni have been prepared using impregnation methods and characterized using Chemisorption, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and XRD studies. SEM results do indicate strong wetting of nickel particles with titania after reduction at 800åC and reduced amount of sintering on prolonged exposures in hydrogen at high temperature. Hydrogen chemisorption studies also revealed a sharp drop in Ni dispersion from 5.3% to less than 1%, due to the presence of titania, at 800oC confirming SMSI effects in Ni-TiO2-YSZ systems.