Nickel-ceria infiltrated Nb-doped SrTiO3 for low temperature SOFC anodes and analysis on gas diffusion impedance

This report concentrates on high performance anodes appropriate for SOFCs operating at low temperatures (400-600 degrees C). Symmetrical cells were made by screen printing of Nb-doped SrTiO3 (STN) on both sides of a dense ScYSZ electrolyte. Backbones I (36% porosity) and II (47% porosity) were obtained by sintering STN in air and reducing atmosphere, respectively. The porous microstructures were then infiltrated with Ni and Gd-doped CeO2 (CGO) precursors to incorporate the electrocatalytically active sites. The electrochemical performance of the anode was improved with the increment of Ni-CGO loadings. The gas diffusion impedance was investigated with He and N-2 in H-2/H2O gas mixtures and by varying the H2O content at 655 degrees C. This study indicated that the gas diffusion in these electrodes are influenced by Knudsen and bulk diffusion. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.