Preparation and characterisation of SOFC anodic materials based on Ce–Cu

Ce–Cu mixed oxide precursors with varing Ce:Cu atomic ratio have been prepared by freeze-drying and microemulsion coprecipitation methods. Nanostructured particles having different properties have been obtained. Physicochemical properties have been studied with X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry, ICP-AES, conductivity measurement and thermal expansion coefficient. All samples show fluorite structure with slight copper surface enrichment for samples having high copper content. Microemulsion method allows the introduction of a large quantity of copper into the cerium oxide structure, obtaining a nanostructured mixed oxide of high surface area. On the other hand, freeze-drying samples does not show evidence of copper incorporation to the lattice of cerium oxide. All materials have a thermal expansion coefficient similar to other components of SOFC.