Preparation and characterization of Cu-SDC anodes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cell

Porous x wt.% Cu-Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (x Cu-SDC, x = 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30) cermet anodes were prepared and investigated by mechanical mixing method for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). Results showed that the porosity of anodes remarkably increased with the Cu content. The optimal electrochemical performance of cermet anodes was obtained when the amount of Cu increased up to 20 wt.% sintered at 1000 °C for 2 h. The lowest area-specific resistance and anodic overpotential of 20Cu-SDC were 0.043 Ω cm2 and 8.8 mV at a current density of 0.2 A cm2 at 600 °C in wet H2, respectively. The thermal expansion was linear for all samples and the thermal expansion coefficients slightly decreased with the Cu content. The flexural strength also decreased with the Cu content and was about 53 MPa for 20Cu-SDC anode.