High performance ceramic nanocomposite fuel cells utilizing LiNiCuZn-oxide anode based on slurry method

A multi-oxide material LiNiCuZn-oxide was prepared through a slurry method as an anode for ceramic nanocomposite fuel cell (CNFC). The CNFCs using this anode material, LSCF as cathode material and a composite electrolyte consisting of CaSm co-doped CeO2 and (NaLiK)2CO3 produced ∼1.03 W/cm2 at 550 °C due to efficient reaction kinetics at the electrodes and high ionic transport in the nanocomposite electrolyte. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed low ionic transport losses (0.238 Ω cm2) and low polarization losses (0.124 Ω cm2) at the electrodes. The SEM measurements revealed the porous microstructures of the composite materials at electrode and the dense mixture of CaSm co-doped CeO2 and (NaLiK)2CO3. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis revealed high surface areas, 4.1 m2/g and 3.8 m2/g, of the anode and cathode respectively. This study provides a promising material for high performance CNFCs.