Reducción química de NiO-8YSZ para la obtención de Cermets Ni-8YSZ útiles como ánodos en celdas de combustible de óxido sólido

In this work a thermodynamic study about the heat treatment processing conditions and chemical reduction in order to obtain useful cermets as anode in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) were performed. Compacts of a mixture of NiO and 8YSZ, modifying the weight of the components: 30, 50 and 70% in weight of NiO, were made. Compaction pressures were varied from 400 to 1000 MPa. Cermet formation took place subsequently reducing NiO to metallic Ni under hydrogen atmosphere (H2) at 1100 °C for 2 h in a tube furnace. The density and porosity of the compact were determined by applying Archimedes method. By means of scanning electron microscopy were obtained the porosity and the morphology qualitatively, as well as the presence and homogeneity of the metallic Ni cermets. The results show that Ni-8YSZ cermets can be obtained in the experimental conditions tested, which should be analyzed for use as anodes in fuel cells.