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

Cermet anodes of Ni-CaZr 0.95Y 0.05O 2.975 (Ni-CZY) and Ni-SrZr 0.95Y 0.05O 2..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 pH 2O-sensitive contributions and is dependent on the composition of the proton-conducting ceramic.