Study of the rheological behavior of an anode slurry and the microstructural properties of an anode functional film obtained by spray coating

Slurries prepared by mixing organic additives with NiO/YSZ powders were deposited by spray coating onto an anode substrate obtained by tape casting to produce a NiO/YSZ anode functional layer with 40 wt.% NiO. The rheology and the chemical stability of slurries with two concentrations of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), 1 and 2 wt.%, were systematically studied, and the microstructures of the anode functional films obtained were compared. Rheological measurements showed that both slurries present pseudoplastic and thixotropic behaviors and that the 2 wt.% PMMA slurry is more homogeneous and maintains chemical stability over a longer period of time. The anode functional films showed good adherence and were free of cracks. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.