Electrochemical characterisation of supporting sofc anodes

Abstract

In order to get a detailed insight into the electrochemical performance of the single anode in an anode supported SOFC cell, symmetrical cells consisting of two nominally identically prepared electrode and support layers have been prepared. Different electrode layers were investigated: Ni-yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) with different ratios of the fine and coarse YSZ, Ni-gadolinium modified ceria (Ni-CGO), and Ni-yttria-titania modified zirconia (Ni-YZT). High quality impedance data are obtained in this set-up and the influence of the Ni-YSZ cermet microstructure corresponds well to results reported earlier. The impedance indicates that the electrode performance is limited rather by electrochemical reaction steps in the Ni-cermet electrode than by gas transport phenomena.