Co-Precipitation synthesis and characterization of NiO-Ce0 ₈Sm _0.2O _1.9 nanocomposite powders: Effect of precipitation agents

NiO-Ce _0.8Sm _0.2O _1.9 (NiO-SDC) nanocomposite powders applied as promising anode material for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) were synthesized by hydroxide co-precipitation method using NH ₃·H ₂O, NaOH and NH ₃·H ₂O ed NaOH as precipitation agents. The crystal phases, morphologies and sintering behavior of the synthesized NiO-SDC nanocomposite powders were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and sintering experiments. The effect of precipitation agents on the synthesis of the NiO-SDC nanocomposite powders was discussed. Results show that different precipitation agents influence greatly the synthesis and characteristics of the NiO-SDC nanocomposite powders. The NiO-SDC nanocomposite powders synthesized with NH ₃ · H ₂O deviate from the original composition due to the loss of Ni. The loss of Ni is avoided and nano-sized NiO-SDC composite powders are synthesized, when NaOH and NH ₃·H ₂O NaOH are used as precipitation agents. The NiO-SDC nanocomposite powders can be synthesized at relatively low temperature using NH ₃·H ₂O NaOH as precipitation agent, and the synthesized NiO-SDC nanocomposite powders show good sintering characteristics.