A Preliminary Study on WO₃‐Infiltrated W–Cu–ScYSZ Anodes for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Preparation and electrochemical characterization of WO3‐infiltrated 0.48W–0.52Cu–ScYSZ (WCS) anode for solid oxide fuel cell are reported. The DC conductivity of a WO3 ceramic was 1,200 and 24 S cm–1 in reducing and oxidizing atmospheres, respectively, at 650 °C. WCS porous backbones in the form of symmetric cells were prepared by screen printing of WO3–CuO–ScYSZ ink and subsequent sintering at 1,300 °C for 1 h in 9% H2/N2.

Analysis of the sintered backbone by X‐ray diffraction showed the metallic W and Cu phases. Precursor solutions of WO3 or CuO were infiltrated into porous WCS backbones to form the anode. The electrochemical performance of these anodes measured by impedance spectroscopy showed polarization resistances of 11 and 6.5 Ω cm2 for WO3 and CuO infiltrated anodes, respectively, at 600 °C in humidified hydrogen.

Activation energy values of 86.8 and 96.5 kJ mol–1 were obtained for WO3 and CuO infiltrated WCS anodes, respectively. The microstructure of the tested anodes showed well‐dispersed sub‐micron particles of WO3 in the WCS backbone whereas CuO infiltration resulted in a dense microstructure.