Effect of Rhodium Infiltration on the Microstructure and Performance ofNi/Ce۰.۸Gd۰.۲O۲-δ Cermet Anode for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

In order to further enhance the Ni/Ce۰.۸Gd۰.۲O۲-δ (Ni/GDC۲۰) cermet anodic performance for lowtemperature solid oxide fuel cell (LT-SOFC), a study was conducted on the nanostructuring of NiO/GDCcomposite by only once wet-infiltration of rhodium chloride precursor. By using electrochemicalimpedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis, the effect of only one drop of Rh-infiltrating solution on theanodic polarization resistance was examined using symmetric Ni–GDC۲۰|GDC۲۰|Pt electrolytesupportedcell at ۴۰۰-۶۰۰ °C. Nanostructural evolution before and after H۲ reduction at ۶۰۰ °C and alsoafter anodic performance test was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emissionscanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques incomparison to the anode itself. Despite the fine distribution of Rh-infiltrated nanoparticles havingaverage particle size of ۱۱.۷ nm, the results showed ineffectiveness and inability of the Rh-nanoparticlesto succeed in decreasing of anodic polarization resistance for H۲ oxidation reaction in LT-SOFC.

Keywords:

LT-SOFC , anode , Ni/GDC cermet , infiltration , rhodium catalyst.