Lithium depth profile in NiO molten carbonate fuel cell cathode by nuclearmicroprobe

Lithiated nickel oxide is currently used as the molten carbonate fuel cell cathode. The lithium concentration in NiO is very low but no quantitative d etermination is available. However, the presence of lithium is a key factor for NiO conductivity, but this species is difficult to detect in low amoun ts. Therefore, the nuclear microprobe technique was used, for the first tim e, to measure lithium concentration and its depth profile in the NiO cathod e. The lithium amount varies between 0.1 and 0.5 atom %, according to the m elt exposure duration and the analyzed position in the layer thickness. (C) 2000 The Electrochemical Society. S1099-0062(99)12-111-4. All rights reser ved.