Performance of the nano-structured Cu–Ni (alloy) -CeO2 anode for solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract In this work, copper and nickel oxides (CuO–NiO) powders with various mole ratios were synthesized by the glycine nitrate process (GNP) and the Cu–Ni alloy was obtained by reducing the CuO–NiO powders at 600 °C for 0.75 h. Furthermore, Cu 1−x Ni x (alloy) -CeO 2 impregnated YSZ anodes were fabricated by the impregnation method and the optimized anode composition was evaluated. It was found that the optimized mole ratio of Cu:Ni was 5:5, while the weight ratio of Cu–Ni alloy to CeO 2 was 3:1. Additionally, impregnated anode with 40 wt % loading of Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 (alloy)-CeO 2 exhibited the best performance and the polarization resistance of such anode was only 0.097, 0.115, 0.145 and 0.212 Ω cm 2 at 750, 700, 650 and 600 °C, respectively. Finally, the performance of the optimized anode in methane (CH 4 ) was investigated and the carbon deposition is greatly suppressed compared to the Ni-based anode.