Fabrication of nickel-YSZ cermet nanofibers via electrospinning

The Ni-YSZ cerment as a promising anode for solid oxide fuel cells and its performance strongly depends on its miscrocture. This work focused on fabrication of Ni-8YSZ nanofibers via an electrospinning technique using yttria and zirconia nanoparticles as precussors. The effects of viscosity on the quality of fibers were assessed by adjusting the polymer and solid contents in slurry. The fibers sintered at different temperatures showed varying morphologies and a bead-like chain at temperatures higher than 800 °C was obtained. Crystalization of the YSZ was completed above 1400 °C and NiO was above 800 °C. The porosity of the fiber structure can reach high up to 45% before NiO reducation. The nanocrystallization of an anode for SOFCs was beneficial to enhance the electrochemical reaction sites and also to reduce the difficulties for gas diffusion.