Influence of the reducing and oxidizing environments on the structure, physical and mechanical properties of ceramics YSZ—NiO for anode substrates of a ceramic fuel cell

B.D.Vasyliv,
 
V.Ya.Podhurska,
  
O.P.Ostash,
  

I. M. Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, Omeliana Pritsaka str.,3, Kyiv, 03142, Ukraine
Electron Microscopy and Strength of Materials - Kiev: Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science NASU, 2013, #19
http://www.materials.kiev.ua/article/778

Abstract

The influence of reduction-oxidation treatment (redox-cycling) at 600 °С on the structure, strength and electrical conductivity of 8YSZ—50NiO ceramics as solid oxide fuel cell anode substrate was studied to determine its treatment regimes. Structure of samples was studied with microstructural, spectral and fractographical analysis; strength — 3-point bending method; the specific electrical conductivity — 4-probe method. The positive effect of redox-cycling at 600 °C on the physical and mechanical features of anode substrates for solid oxide fuel cells has been achieved. Using the cyclic redox treatment of 8YSZ–50NiO ceramic anodes that comprises stages of heating in vacuum to the necessary temperature, reduction of already heated material in hydrogenous gas environment, degassing and oxidation in air at the same temperature, the structures providing 1,3—2 fold higher strength and 2,3—2,8 fold higher electrical conductivity compared with corresponding features of the one cycle reduced material, have been formed. Full text download


ANODE SUBSTRATE, CERAMICS ZRO2—NIO, CERMETS ZRO2—NI, CONDUCTIVITY, REDOX TREATMENT, SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL, STRENGTH, STRUCTURE