Sintering of NiO/YSZ Anode Layers for Metal-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

The construction of a metal-supported fuel cell has been recently generating a growing interest among the designers of solid oxide fuel cells. The present work is aimed at solving the problem related to high-temperature sintering of fuel cell NiO/YSZ anode on the porous metal substrate functioning both as a supporting structure and a reliable current collector. Hence, its irreversible oxidation during high-temperature sintering should be avoided. NiO/YSZ layers were applied on porous metal samples by a screen-printing technique and sintered in reducing and inert atmospheres, as well as in vacuum. The obtained layers were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray phase analysis. It was shown that a temperature of 1000 degrees C. does not ensure a substantial sintering of Ni and YSZ granules in a reducing atmosphere. Under the sintering temperature above 1230 degrees C. in an inert atmosphere and vacuum, the nickel oxide dissociation and its massive agglomeration are observed. The conditions of NiO/YSZ layer vacuum sintering were experimentally determined which provide a high-grade sintering of nickel cermet granules without Ni agglomeration, disturbance of homogeneity in the formed anode layer, and the metal substrate oxidation.