Fabrication of Macroporous NiO-YSZ Anode Using Template-assisted Method

To increase the area of the triple phase boundaries to promote the efficiency of SOFCs, macroporous NiO-YSZ structure with orderedpores is needed. Monodisperse PMMA spheres prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization with micron-range diameterswere used as the template. The diameters of PMMA spheres are dependent upon the reaction time, initiator concentration andmonomer concentration. The compacts of PMMA spheres were impregnated with NiO-YSZ precursors. The removal of PMMAspheres was conducted by heat treatment in air. Consequently, the macroporous NiO-YSZ structure with minimal pore size about800nm was obtained after heat treatment at 800~1000oC.