Highly dispersed anodes for solid oxide fuel cells using NiO/YSZ/BZY triple-phase composite powders prepared by spray pyrolysis

NiO/Y(2)O(3)-stabilized ZrO(2) (YSZ)/Y-doped BaZrO(3) (BZY) triple-phase composite powders were prepared by spray pyrolysis and evaluated for Ni/YSZ/BZY cermet anodes, which are considered effective for dry CH(4) operation in solid oxide fuel cells. The structure of the particles in these powders was fine crystal fragments, and the individual material phases were clearly separated and highly dispersed within the particles. The Nil YSZ/BZY cermet anodes fabricated with these composite powders maintained a fine electrode microstructure equivalent to that in a simple Ni/YSZ cermet anode manufactured using a composite powder prepared by spray pyrolysis. Furthermore, the addition of BZY improved the anode performance in humidified H(2) and dry CH(4) operation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.