Synthesis and characterisation of YSZ-Al2O3 nanostructured materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Ceramic Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is a critical material in various high-temperature applications.
• Alumina (Al2O3) doping is explored to enhance the properties of YSZ.
• Understanding the structural evolution of doped YSZ is essential for optimizing its performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize alumina-doped YSZ with varying alumina concentrations.
• To investigate the structural and microstructural changes induced by alumina addition.
• To determine the influence of sintering temperature and time on the phase composition and properties of the synthesized materials.

Main Methods:

• Co-precipitation method for synthesizing YSZ powders.
• Addition of alumina in weight proportions of 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, and 60/40.
• Sintering of synthesized products in the temperature range of 800-1100 °C.
• Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM).
• Rietveld refinement analysis for structural characterization.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of tetragonal (3 mol% yttria) and cubic (8 mol% yttria) YSZ phases doped with alumina.
• Characterization confirmed the presence of YSZ and alumina phases.
• Microstructural analysis revealed the effect of alumina concentration and sintering conditions on grain growth and phase distribution.
• Rietveld refinement provided detailed structural parameters and phase quantification.

Conclusions:

• Alumina doping influences the phase stability and microstructure of YSZ.
• The co-precipitation route is effective for synthesizing alumina-doped YSZ.
• Optimized sintering conditions are crucial for achieving desired structural and microstructural properties in alumina-YSZ composites.