Nickel Cerium Gadolinium Oxide

Nickel Oxide – Cerium Gadolinium Oxide (NiO-GDC) powder is a precision-engineered SOFC anode composite that pairs the electronic and catalytic activity of nickel oxide with the exceptional ionic conductivity of gadolinium-doped ceria. Formulated for intermediate- and low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells, this cermet precursor delivers enhanced triple-phase-boundary density, superior redox stability, and lower operating temperatures than conventional zirconia-based anodes. Each batch is synthesized and milled to tight submicron particle size distributions and characterized for surface area, phase purity, and composition uniformity before release. Supplied as a free-flowing powder ready for tape casting, screen printing, or extrusion, it is trusted by fuel cell developers, electrolysis system integrators, and research laboratories worldwide.

Surface Area (m²/g) :	4-7
Particle size d₅₀ (μm) :	<1.5
Purity (%) :	>=99.9

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Description

Introduction to Nickel Oxide – Cerium Gadolinium Oxide Powder

Nickel Oxide–Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (NiO-GDC) is a composite anode material typically formulated at 60:40 or 65:35 wt% NiO, using GDC10 (Ce₀.₉Gd₀.₁O₁.₉₅) or GDC20 (Ce₀.₈Gd₀.₂O₁.₉). Gd³⁺ substitution creates oxygen vacancies within the fluorite ceria lattice, providing high oxide-ion conductivity at intermediate temperatures, while partial Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺ reduction contributes mixed ionic-electronic conductivity under fuel-side conditions. During operation, NiO reduces to metallic Ni, forming a conductive Ni-GDC cermet where Ni provides electronic transport and fuel-oxidation catalysis and GDC extends ionic transport and electrochemically active interfaces. Supplied as fine, controlled powder, NiO-GDC supports tape casting, screen printing, extrusion, and co-sintering. It is widely used in intermediate- and low-temperature SOFC anodes.

FAQs

Question: What is Nickel Cerium Gadolinium Oxide used for?

Answer: Nickel Cerium Gadolinium Oxide serves as a solid oxide fuel cell electrolyte. However, it can also be used in catalytic processes, gas sensors, and other electrochemical devices.

Question: How should Nickel Cerium Gadolinium Oxide be stored?

Answer: It must be stored cool and dry to preserve stability, away from moisture and incompatible materials.

Question: What factors influence the performance of Nickel Cerium Gadolinium Oxide?

Answer: Factors such as synthesis method, particle size, morphology, and composition may significantly affect conductivity and catalytic activity.

Question: Does the GDC phase conduct electrons as well as ions?

Answer: Under the reducing atmosphere at the fuel electrode, a fraction of Ce4+ ions in GDC are reduced to Ce3+, introducing a degree of electronic (mixed ionic-electronic) conduction alongside its ionic transport -- a known characteristic distinct from purely ionic conductors like YSZ, and one that is factored into anode and stack design.

Introduction to Nickel Oxide – Cerium Gadolinium Oxide Powder

Property	Value	Significance
Crystal structure (GDC phase)	Cubic fluorite (Fm-3m)	Same lattice family as YSZ/pure ceria; hosts high oxygen-vacancy concentration for fast ion transport
NiO: GDC ratio	60:40 wt% (typical); 65:35 and custom ratios available	Governs percolation threshold for electronic conduction after reduction and anode microstructure
Gd doping level	10 mol% (GDC10, Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95) or 20 mol% (GDC20, Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9)	GDC10 offers peak ionic conductivity; GDC20 offers improved phase and chemical stability
Particle size D50	< 1.5 μm (submicron); finer grades to ~0.3 μm	Finer particles improve sinterability, TPB density, and green-body packing
Specific surface area (BET)	4-7 m²/g	Higher surface area promotes reactive sintering and homogeneous NiO reduction
Purity	99% – 99.9%, custom on request	Minimises glassy/silica-based grain-boundary phases that block ionic and electronic pathways
Operating temperature range (post-sintering, in service)	500-800 degrees C	Positions NiO-GDC anodes for intermediate- and low-temperature SOFC/SOEC operation below typical Ni-YSZ ranges
Electrical behaviour after reduction	Mixed ionic-electronic conductor (GDC phase) + electronic conductor (Ni phase)	Partial Ce4+/Ce3+ reduction under fuel atmosphere adds electronic conduction distinct from pure-ionic YSZ.

Property

Value

Significance

Crystal structure (GDC phase)

Cubic fluorite (Fm-3m)

Same lattice family as YSZ/pure ceria; hosts high oxygen-vacancy concentration for fast ion transport

NiO: GDC ratio

60:40 wt% (typical); 65:35 and custom ratios available

Governs percolation threshold for electronic conduction after reduction and anode microstructure

Gd doping level

10 mol% (GDC10, Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95) or 20 mol% (GDC20, Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9)

GDC10 offers peak ionic conductivity; GDC20 offers improved phase and chemical stability

Particle size D50

< 1.5 μm (submicron); finer grades to ~0.3 μm

Finer particles improve sinterability, TPB density, and green-body packing

Specific surface area (BET)

4-7 m²/g

Higher surface area promotes reactive sintering and homogeneous NiO reduction

Purity

99% – 99.9%, custom on request

Minimises glassy/silica-based grain-boundary phases that block ionic and electronic pathways

Operating temperature range (post-sintering, in service)

500-800 degrees C

Positions NiO-GDC anodes for intermediate- and low-temperature SOFC/SOEC operation below typical Ni-YSZ ranges

Electrical behaviour after reduction

Mixed ionic-electronic conductor (GDC phase) + electronic conductor (Ni phase)

Partial Ce4+/Ce3+ reduction under fuel atmosphere adds electronic conduction distinct from pure-ionic YSZ.

Grade / Form	Typical Purity	Key Features / Uses
Standard NiO-GDC10 (60:40 wt%)	99% – 99.9%	General-purpose anode-supported SOFC fabrication; balanced conductivity and cost
Standard NiO-GDC20 (60:40 wt%)	99% – 99.9%	Improved long-term phase stability for higher steam/CO2 fuel content
Fine/nano-milled grade	99% – 99.9%	D50 ~0.3-0.8 μm for screen-printing inks and thin functional anode layers
Anode-supported cell grade	99.5%+	Coarser, controlled bimodal distribution optimized for tape casting thick support layers
Custom-ratio/research grade	Custom, up to 99.9%	Adjustable NiO: GDC weight ratio and Gd doping level for R&D and cell-performance studies

Grade / Form

Typical Purity

Key Features / Uses

Standard NiO-GDC10 (60:40 wt%)

99% – 99.9%

General-purpose anode-supported SOFC fabrication; balanced conductivity and cost

Standard NiO-GDC20 (60:40 wt%)

99% – 99.9%

Improved long-term phase stability for higher steam/CO2 fuel content

Fine/nano-milled grade

99% – 99.9%

D50 ~0.3-0.8 μm for screen-printing inks and thin functional anode layers

Anode-supported cell grade

99.5%+

Coarser, controlled bimodal distribution optimized for tape casting thick support layers

Custom-ratio/research grade

Custom, up to 99.9%

Adjustable NiO: GDC weight ratio and Gd doping level for R&D and cell-performance studies

Industry	Application	Function
Fuel cell manufacturing	Anode-supported SOFC fabrication	Provides an electronic/ionic percolation network and catalytic hydrogen oxidation sites after in-situ NiO reduction
Fuel cell manufacturing	Metal-supported and low-temperature SOFC anodes	GDC’s higher ionic conductivity at reduced temperature compensates for lower thermal activation below 650 degrees C
Energy storage/hydrogen production	Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs)	Serves as the hydrogen (fuel-side) electrode for steam/CO2 electrolysis to hydrogen and syngas
Automotive/stationary power	Combined heat and power (CHP) and auxiliary power units	Enables intermediate-temperature operation, reducing thermal cycling stress on automotive and stationary stacks
Chemical processing	Internal/external fuel reforming layers	Nickel phase catalyses hydrocarbon reforming to hydrogen-rich syngas within the anode structure.
Research and development	Electrochemical and materials science studies	Model mixed-conductor cermet system for studying redox stability, TPB kinetics, and doped-ceria conduction mechanisms

Industry

Application

Function

Fuel cell manufacturing

Anode-supported SOFC fabrication

Provides an electronic/ionic percolation network and catalytic hydrogen oxidation sites after in-situ NiO reduction

Fuel cell manufacturing

Metal-supported and low-temperature SOFC anodes

GDC’s higher ionic conductivity at reduced temperature compensates for lower thermal activation below 650 degrees C

Energy storage/hydrogen production

Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs)

Serves as the hydrogen (fuel-side) electrode for steam/CO2 electrolysis to hydrogen and syngas