Impedance Study of a NiO-BCZY|BCZY|LSCF Single Cell With and Without Anode Reforming Layer

Nurul Hazwani Yusof; Suhaida Dila Safian; Abul Kalam Azad; Lidyayatty Abdul Malik; Abdul Mutalib Md Jani; Nafisah Osman

doi:10.58915/aset.v5i2.3534

Authors

Nurul Hazwani Yusof Universiti Teknologi MARA
Suhaida Dila Safian Universiti Teknologi MARA
Abul Kalam Azad Universiti Brunei Darussalam
Lidyayatty Abdul Malik Universiti Teknologi MARA
Abdul Mutalib Md Jani Universiti Teknologi MARA
Nafisah Osman Universiti Teknologi MARA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58915/aset.v5i2.3534

Keywords:

Anode Reforming Layer, Nyquist Plot, Relaxation times

Abstract

Proton ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) have attracted considerable attention due to their potential for fuel flexibility with hydrocarbons and syngas, making them promising candidates for next-generation energy conversion systems that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 9. Although anode reforming layers (ARLs) have been investigated to improve hydrocarbon operation, their influence on the intrinsic electrochemical processes at the triple-phase boundary (TPB) remains insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by investigating the electrochemical behaviour of a 50 wt% CeO₂–50 wt% BaO ARL using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis. An anode-supported cell with the configuration NiO-BCZY|BCZY|LSCF (BCZY = BaCe_0.54Zr_0.36Y_0.1O_2.95; LSCF = La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ); with ARL (Cell 1) and without ARL (Cell 2) was evaluated under humidified 10% H₂–90% N₂ atmosphere at 700°C. The Nyquist plots showed that Cell 1 exhibited lower polarization resistance than Cell 2, indicating enhanced overall electrode kinetics. Further DRT analysis revealed that the most pronounced reduction occurred in the high-frequency process (P1), followed by a smaller reduction in the intermediate-frequency process (P2), suggesting improved interfacial charge-transfer kinetics at the TPB. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the role of the CeO₂–BaO ARL and establish a basis for its future application under hydrocarbon fuels.

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