Preparation and characterization of yttria-stabilized zirconia nanotubes

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nanotubes were synthesized by the sol-gel method using porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) as the templates. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) spectrum and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) techniques were used to characterize the morphology and crystalline structure of the prepared YSZ nanotubes. The length and the diameter of the YSZ nanotubes are 50 μm and 200 nm, respectively, which are in good agreement with the dimensions of the template pores, while the wall thickness of the nanotubes depends on the impregnation time. XRD and SAED measurements indicate that the obtained YSZ nanotubes after sintering at 1073 K possess a polycrystalline structure and a cubic crystal phase. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurement shows that the YSZ nanotubes have a surface specific area of around 40.5 m2 g−1 that is higher than that corresponding to the YSZ nanopowders.