Processing Ni–YSZ anode by electroless Ni deposition with AgNO 3 as activator

Palladium chloride (PdCl₂), which is generally used as an activating agent for electroless nickel coating, is expensive and hence increases the coating cost. In the present study, AgNO₃, which is much cheaper than PdCl₂, was used as an activating agent for electroless Ni coating on yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) powder to fabricate Ni–YSZ cermet anodes for solid oxide fuel cell. The YSZ powder was coated with 30 and 40 wt-%Ni using both AgNO₃ and PdCl₂ as activating agents. The powders activated with AgNO₃ showed the same coating characteristics as the powders activated with PdCl₂ in terms of amount of Ni deposited, coating quality, uniformity and microstructure. The coated powder was pressed and sintered in air and reduced in hydrogen atmosphere to convert NiO back to Ni. The sintered microstructure showed a well defined network of Ni around YSZ particles, which is necessary for the effective functioning of the anode.