A Preliminary Study on WO₃‐Infiltrated W–Cu–ScYSZ Anodes for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Preparation and electrochemical characterization of WO 3 ‐infiltrated 0.48W–0.52Cu–ScYSZ (WCS) anode for solid oxide fuel cell are reported. The DC conductivity of a WO 3 ceramic was 1,200 and 24 S cm –1 in reducing and oxidizing atmospheres, respectively, at 650 °C. WCS porous backbones in the form of symmetric cells were prepared by screen printing of WO 3 –CuO–ScYSZ ink and subsequent sintering at 1,300 °C for 1 h in 9% H 2 /N 2 . Analysis of the sintered backbone by X‐ray diffraction showed the metallic W and Cu phases. Precursor solutions of WO 3 or CuO were infiltrated into porous WCS backbones to form the anode. The electrochemical performance of these anodes measured by impedance spectroscopy showed polarization resistances of 11 and 6.5 Ω cm 2 for WO 3 and CuO infiltrated anodes, respectively, at 600 °C in humidified hydrogen. Activation energy values of 86.8 and 96.5 kJ mol –1 were obtained for WO 3 and CuO infiltrated WCS anodes, respectively. The microstructure of the tested anodes showed well‐dispersed sub‐micron particles of WO 3 in the WCS backbone whereas CuO infiltration resulted in a dense microstructure.