INFLUENCE OF SINTERING TEMPERATURE ON NiO-SDCC ANODE FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS (LT-SOFCs)

The effects of sintering temperature on the microstructural and physical properties of NiO-SDCC anode pellets are evaluated in this study. Composite powders of NiO-SDCC (nickel oxide, samarium-doped ceria, Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 ) mixed with binary carbonates (67 mol. % Li 2 CO 3 and 33 mol. % Na 2 CO 3 ) was prepared, ball-milled, and oven-dried. Carbon black and polyethylene glycol were added to the NiO-SDCC powders as pore former and binder, respectively, to fabricate NiO-SDCC pellets. This mixture was then pressed onto a cylindrical mold under a pressure of 32 MPa. The pellets were subsequently sintered at 600, 700, 800, 900 and 1000C for 2 h. Phase transformation, particle size, morphology, and specific surface area (SBET) of the NiO-SDCC composite powder were investigated. Porosity and microstructure of the NiO-SDCC anode pellets were then evaluated after sintering. Results showed that the porosities of the NiO-SDCC pellets decreased as the sintering temperature increased. The increments of sintering temperature reduced the porosity of the pellets, but NiO-SDCC pellets sintered at 800C exhibited an acceptable porosity of 32.60 %. Furthermore, surface images showed that the microstructures of sintered pellets at 800C were well-bonded and kept a uniform particle size distribution.