Fabrication and evaluation of NiO/Y2O3-stabilized-ZrO2 hollow fibers for anode-supported micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells

In this work NiO/3 mol% Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ (3YSZ) and NiO/8 mol% Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ (8YSZ) hollow fibers were prepared by phase-inversion. The effect of different kinds of YSZ (3YSZ and 8YSZ) on the porosity, electrical conductivity, shrinkage and flexural strength of the hollow fibers were systematically evaluated. When compared with Ni–8YSZ the porosity and shrinkage of Ni–3YSZ hollow fibers increases while the electrical conductivity decreases, while at the same time also exhibiting enhanced flexural strength. Single cells with Ni–3YSZ and Ni–8YSZ hollow fibers as the supported anode were successfully fabricated showing maximum power densities of 0.53 and 0.67 W cm^?2 at 800 °C, respectively. Furthermore, in order to improve the cell performance, a Ni–8YSZ anode functional layer was added between the electrolyte and Ni–YSZ hollow fiber. Here enhanced peak power densities of 0.79 and 0.73 W cm^?2 were achieved at 800 °C for single cells with Ni–3YSZ and Ni–8YSZ hollow fibers, respectively.