Combustion synthesis of NiO-Ce _0.9Gd _0.1O _1.95 nanocomposite anode and its electrical characteristics of semi-cell configured SOFC assembly

NiO-Ce _0.9Gd _0.1O _1.95 (NiO-10GDC) nanocomposite anode material was synthesized through combustion technique for possible low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). A low weight loss is seen in the TG/DTA thermogram that indicates the complete combustion of the reactant mixtures. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the presence of NiO, GDC and Ni crystallite phases in the as combusted product. Upon calcination at 600 °C, the metallic Ni oxidized to NiO. TEM images showed a wide size distribution of fine spherical GDC and large irregularly shaped NiO particles. This NiO-10GDC anode material was applied over GDC electrolyte as a porous thin layer. Using this surface engineered GDC electrolyte a semi-cell (electrode/electrolyte structure) was fabricated. The electrical conductivity of the semi-cell was characterized with respect to temperature.