Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.32, No.2, 179-184, 2002
Electrochemical behaviour of Ni+Al alloy as an alternative material for molten carbonate fuel cell cathodes
This paper presents an investigation of the performance and stability for oxygen reduction on in situ oxidized Ni alloys, specially focused on 95 at % Ni + 5 at % Al and 85 at % Ni + 15 at % Al alloy electrodes in Li/Na carbonate eutectic. Test specimens of the alloys were prepared as thin film electrodes sputtered onto Au substrates. In situ oxidation of alloy electrodes and electrochemical measurements for oxygen reduction on the electrodes were performed in the free-volume melt at 923 K. It was found that the in situ oxidized Ni + Al alloys exhibit higher performance for the oxygen reduction than the NiO without Al. Electrochemical fractal analysis (EFA) revealed higher oxide film stability of the Ni + Al alloys in comparison to NiO electrodes. The surface morphology of the alloy specimen after oxidation was investigated with SEM and AFM.