Characterization of MOy–MxCe1−xO2−δ (M: Co, Ni & Cu) nano powders and anode materials for low and intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

•Synthesis and characterization of new type anode nano powders with specific properties.•Crystallinity, dissolving and performance improvement with CoO, NiO and CuO additions in Ceria.•Influence of zeta potential and pH on the agglomeration of ceria based nano powders.•Influence of CuO-addition on the morphology of Ni–Co doped ceria powders.

The development of new anode materials is necessary for low and intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) to improve fuel cell lifetime and performance and to decrease operating temperature. In this study, new nanocrystalline anode powder materials with the novel composition: MOy–MxCe1−xO2−δ (M = Ni, Co and Cu) were synthesized by glycine nitrate process (GNP). The crystal structure, morphology, specific surface area (SSA), particle size and distribution of the synthesized powders, and cell performance were investigated using various techniques (e.g., BET, SEM, XRD, TEM). The results demonstrated significant improvement on the powder characteristics to optimize the property of the anode materials. The synthesized nano powders consisted of two main phases with fluorite and rock salt crystal structure. The nano scale particle size and distribution ranged from 5 to 600 nm with a high SSA of 14.95–20.50 m2 g−1, which are quite important characteristics for high performance anode materials such as porosity, density and contact surface area. Electrolyte supported single cells having LSM/GDC/ceria-based anode produced from aforementioned nano powders exhibited high performance of 0.35 W cm−2 at 700 °C under 25 ml/min pure and dry methane (CH4) feeding. Dry hydrogen (99.9%) was used as a starting gas to reduce anode layer side for 30 min.

Graphical abstractNew generation ceria based nanocrystalline anode powder materials MO–MxCe1−xO2−δ (M = Ni, Co & Cu) were synthesized by glycine nitrate process (GNP) for low and intermediate temperature SOFCs. Synthesized nano powders consisted of two main phases fluorite and rock salt crystal structure and have a particle size and distribution ranged from 5 to 600 nm with high specific surface area of 14.95–20.50 m2 g−1. Electrolyte supported single cells with LSM/GDC/ceria-based anode cell structure produced from mentioned nano powders exhibited high performance of 0.35 W cm−2 at 700 °C under 25 ml/min pure and dry methane feeding.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide