Preparation of Al2O3–ZrO2 nanocomposite films by laser chemical vapour deposition

Alumina (Al2O3)–zirconia (ZrO2) nanocomposite films were prepared by laser chemical vapour deposition. α-Al2O3–ZrO2 and γ-Al2O3–t-ZrO2 nanocomposite films were prepared at 1207 and 1000 K, respectively. In the nanocomposite films, 10-nm-wide t-ZrO2 nanodendrites grew inside the α- or γ-Al2O3 columnar grains. The γ-Al2O3–t-ZrO2 nanocomposite films exhibited high nanoindentation hardness (28.0 GPa) and heat insulation efficiency (4788 J s−1/2 m−2 K−1).