Nickle Electrodes for High-temperature Proton-conducting Electrolytes: Preparation by Electroless Plating and Electrochemical Performance

doi:10.15541/jim20170112

Abstract

Abstract:

Nickel layers were deposited on the surface of high-temperature proton-conducting CaZr_0.9In_0.1O_3-_δ (CZI) electrolytes by an electroless plating technique. Effects of acid etching and reduction processes on electrode surface morphology and electrolyte adherence to electrodes were investigated by SEM observation. The results showed that the electrodes prepared by a two-step electroless plating process in HNO₃-HCl etching solution with hydrazine reducing agent were uniform and well connected to the electrolyte surface. Conductivity and proton transport rate between Ni-CZI symmetric cell and Pt-CZI symmetric cell were compared by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and concentration cell test. The total conductivity of the Ni-CZI symmetric cell was 4.131×10^-4 S/cm at 800℃, and the proton transport rates of the Ni-CZI symmetric cell were all almost 100% at the operating temperature higher than 400℃. The nickel electrode prepared by two-step electroless plating was achievable at low cost and had a comparable catalytic performance to that of platinum electrode, indicating it a promising candidate to replace athe noble platinum catalyst electrode.

Key words: electroless plating, nickel electrodes, high-temperature proton-conducting electrolytes

CLC Number:

O646

WEN Ya-Bing, ZHANG Jing-Chao, YE Xiao-Feng, WANG Yong, HAN Jin-Duo, LUO Wen-Hua, GU Sui, MENG Jian-Bo, WEN Zhao-Yin. Nickle Electrodes for High-temperature Proton-conducting Electrolytes: Preparation by Electroless Plating and Electrochemical Performance[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2017, 32(12): 1250-1256.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of CZI powders calcined at different temperatures and sintered CZI ceramic surface

Fig. 2 Cross-sectional microstructure of CZI ceramic sintered at 1550℃

Fig. 3 Morphologies of the CZI surfaces etched for different time(a) Unetched; (b) HCl-HNO3 etched for 10 min; (c) HCl-HNO3 etched for 20 min

Fig. 4 Cross-section and surface morphology of electrodes after electroless plating for different periods(a) One-step, 1 h; (b) Two-step, 0 h; (c) Two-step, 0.5 h; (d) Two-step, 1 h; (e) Two-step, 1.5 h; (f) Two-step, 2 h

Fig. 5 XRD pattern of Ni electrode (a) and EDS plane scan analysis of Ni electrode surface (b)

Fig. 6 Impedance spectra of Pt-CZI and Ni-CZI at different temperatures in wet H2

Fig. 7 Arrhenius curves of total conductivity of pasted Pt and electroless plated Ni electrode high-temperature proton conductor in wet H2

Fig. 8 EMFs, theoretical electromotive force values and proton transport rates of hydrogen concentration cell: H2 (PH2=105 Pa)/ H2+N2 (PH2=5×104 Pa), Ni | CZI |Ni, H2+Ar (PH2=5×103 Pa)

Fig. 9 Interface morphology of electrolyte and electrode of concentration cell (50%H2-5%H2) with different run time at 800℃

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