Electrochemical cells with multilayer functional electrodesPart I. Reduction–oxidation reactions in a NiO-YSZ electrocatalytic electrode

Microstructural and chemical changes in a NiO-YSZ electrocatalytic electrode were studied. The microstructural changes in the NiO-YSZ electrocatalytic electrode after the cell operation was compared with the electrode quenched under the applied voltage to suppress the oxidation process. The reversible reduction of NiO into Ni and the formation of intergranular Ni layers at the NiO/YSZ interface were investigated. It was shown that in a compositional range of the NiO-YSZ electrodes from 1/3 to 2/3 the value of the ambipolar conductivity increased with increasing voltage applied to the electrochemical cell. The observed reversible increase in the value of ambipolar conductivity of the electrocatalytic electrode is described in frames of the model of reversible reduction of NiO into Ni under the conditions of cell operation.