Synthesis of Ultrafine NiO/YSZ Composite Powder for Anode Material of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

고체산화물 연료전지의 양극재료용 초미분체 NiO/YSZ 복합체 재료합성 연구

Ultrafine NiO/YSZ (Yttria-Stabilized Zirconic) composite powders were prepared by using a glycine nitrate process (GNP) for anode material of solid oxide fuel cells. The specific surface areas of synthesized NiO/YSZ composite powders were examined with controlling pH of a precursor solution and the content of glycine. The binding of glycine with metal ions occurring in the precursor solution was analyzed by using FTIR. The characteristics of synthesized composite powders were examined with X-ray diffractometer, a BET method with $N_2$ absorption, scanning and transmission electron microscopies. Strongly acid precursor solution increased the specific surface area of the synthesized composite powders. This is suggested to be caused by the increased binding of metal ions and glycine under a strong acid solution of pH=0.5 that lets glycine consist of mainly the amine group of NH$_3$$^{+}$ After sintering and reducing treatment of NiO/YSZ composite powders synthesized by GNP, the Ni/YSZ pellet showed ideal microstructure very fine Ni Particles of 3-5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ were distributed uniformly and fine pores around Ni metal particles were formed, thus, leading to an increase of the triple phase boundary among gas, Ni and YSZ.Z.