The Role of Water Vapour on the Kinetics of H2 Oxidation on Porous Ni Electrodes at 1000°C

NiO/Y₂O₃ - ZrO₂ (Ni/YSZ) cermet is the most common material used as fuel electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells. In this paper, oxidation reactions of H₂ on porous Ni electrodes have been studied in dry H₂ and in 98% H₂ 2% H₂O at fuel cell operation temperatures. In particular, the role of the presence of H₂O vapour on the mechanism and kinetics of H₂ oxidation reaction has been discussed, based on the reaction models proposed.