Comparative Evaluation of Spark Plasma and Conventional Sintering of NiO/YSZ Layers for Metal-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

NiO/YSZ anode layers for metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). SPS parameters were optimized in order to achive anodes of the desired microstructure. The effect of sintering conditions on microstructure of NiO/YSZ was studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. Also NiO/YSZ layers were formed on porous metal supports by a screen-printing method and sintered in inert atmosphere and vacuum by conventional sintering technique. At temperatures above 1,200 °С in inert atmosphere and vacuum nickel oxide dissociation and its massive agglomeration are observed during conventional sintering. SPS process allows sintering of NiO/YSZ granules without NiO dissociation, Ni agglomeration and the metal substrate oxidation at 1,100 °С. SPS sintered anodes demonstrate sufficiently homogeneous distribution of NiO and YSZ making a conduction path for electrons and ions. Well-bonded metal support/anode interface was obtained.

Keywords

• solid oxide fuel cell
• spark plasma sintering
• anode
• cermet
• microstructure
• 81.20.ev