Modified NiO/GDC Cermets as Possible Cathode Electrocatalysts for H2O Electrolysis and H2O/CO2 Co-Electrolysis Processes in SOECs

The present work deals with the preparation/modification of commercially available NiO/GDC powder with Au, Mo and BaO. The prepared ceramo-metallic electrocatalysts have been characterized in the form of powders with several techniques, such as BET, XRD, H-2-TPR, O-2-TPO and TGA, including specific redox stability measurements under various H2O/H-2 feed conditions. Each cermet has shown different structural properties. Currently these electrode materials are also electrocatalytically studied for the H2O/CO2 co-electrolysis and H2O electrolysis processes in the temperature range of 800-900 degrees C. The presented study exhibits preliminary results for the H2O electrolysis reaction, performed in single solid oxide electrolyte supported cells, by comparing Ni/GDC and 3wt.% Au-Ni/GDC as fuel electrodes. It is observed that the cell comprising Au-Ni/GDC exhibited better performance.