Development of a standard Ni-YSZ cermet anode for intermediate temperatures

Ni-YSZ cermet anodes were prepared from commercial NiO and coarse crushed YSZ powders. After firing at 1300 degrees C on pretreated YSZ electrolyte sheets, they were tested for performance and stability at 700-900 degrees C against regular LSM cathodes. The overpotential loss was reproducibly determined as 150 mV at 1 Acm(-2) and around 800 degrees C. No degradation over testing periods of 400 h was observed. The impedance response at increasing current densities decreased markedly and featured an inductive loop at low frequencies. Power densities of the PENs of 0.35Wcm(-2) at 800 degrees C were recorded. Impregnation of the electrodes with metal catalysts increased this value to 0.48Wcm(-2).