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Electrochemical performance and microstructure characterization of nickel yttrium‐stabilized zirconia anode |
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| Authors: | Jingbo Liu Viola Birss Josephine Hill |
| Affiliation: | 1. Texas A&M University‐Kingsville, Dept. of Chemistry, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, TX 78363;2. University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemistry, 2400 University Dr., Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada;3. University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2400 University Dr., Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada |
| Abstract: | A nickel and yttrium‐stabilized zirconia (Ni‐YSZ) composite is one of the most commonly used anode materials in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). One of the drawbacks of the Ni‐YSZ anode is its susceptibility to deactivation due to the formation of carbonaceous species when hydrocarbons are used as fuel supplies. We therefore initiated an electrochemical study of the influence of methane (CH4) on the performance of Ni‐YSZ anodes by examining the kinetics of the oxidation of CH4 and H2 over operating temperatures of 600–800°C. Anode performance deterioration was then correlated with the degree of carbonization observed on the anode using ex‐situ X‐ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Results showed that carbonaceous species led to a significant deactivation of Ni‐YSZ anode toward methane oxidation. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 |
| Keywords: | composite solid oxide fuel cell coke formation characterization electrochemical performance |