Fabrication of NiO-Y:BaZrO3 Composite Anode for Thin Film-Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells using Tape-Casting

Abstract

Optimization of the fabrication process of NiO-yttrium doped barium zirconate (BZY) composite anode substrates using tapecasting for high performance thin-film protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) is investigated. The anode substrate is composed of a tens of microns-thick anode functional layer laminated over a porous anode substrate. The macro-pore structure of the anode support is induced by micron-scale polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) pore formers. Thermal gravity analysis (TGA) and a dilatometer are used to determine the polymeric additive burn-out and sintering temperatures. Crystallinity and microstructure of the tape-cast NiO-BZY anode are analyzed after the sintering.