Thin porous Ni-YSZ films as anodes for a solid oxide fuel cell

Porous Ni-YSZ (YSZ-yttria-stabilized zirconia) films were fabricated by reactive co-sputtering of a Ni and a Zr-Y target, followed by sequentially annealing in air at 900 degrees C and in vacuum at 800 degrees C. The Ni-YSZ films comprised small grains and pores that were tens of nanometers in size. The porous Ni-YSZ films were used as an anode on one side of a YSZ electrolyte disc and a La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thick film was used as a cathode on the other side of the disc to form solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The voltage-current Curves of the SOFCs with single- and a triple-layered porous anodes were measured in a single-chamber Configuration, in a mixture of CH4 and air (CH4:O-2 volume ratio = 2:1). The Maximum power density of the SOFC using the single-layered porous Ni-YSZ thin films as the anode was 0.38 mW cm(-2), which was lower than that of 0.76 mW cm(-2), obtained using a screen-printed Ni-YSZ thick anode. The maximum power density of the SOFC with a thin anode was increased, but varied between 0.6 and 1.14 mW cm(-2) when a triple-layered porous Ni-YSZ anode was used. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.