Effect of Nickel Oxide/Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia Anode Precursor Sintering Temperature on the Properties of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

An NiO/yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layer sintered at temperatures between 1100° and 1500°C onto dense YSZ electrolyte foils forms the precursor structure for a porous Ni/YSZ cermet anode for solid oxide fuel cells. Conflicting requirements for the electrochemical performance and mechanical strength of such cells are investigated. A minimum polarization resistance of 0.09 Ω . cm 2 at 1000°C in moist hydrogen is obtained for sintering temperatures of 1300°–1400°C. The mechanical strength of the cells decreases with increased sintering temperature because of the formation of channel cracks in the electrode layers, originating in a thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the layers.