Synthesis of nanocrystalline YSZ (ZrO2–8Y2O3) powder by polymerized complex method

In this study nanocrystalline powders of yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO2–8Y2O3) have been synthesized through “polymerized complex method”. Zirconium chloride, yttrium nitrate, citric acid and ethylene glycol were polymerized at 80 °C to produce a gel-like mass in which metallic ions were uniformly distributed. During the thermal treatment of dried gel, nanocrystalline powder was formed at 450 °C and 650 °C for 2 h. Thermal reactions and crystalline phase formation of the dried gel were investigated through thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The results of thermal analysis and XRD showed the formation of nanocrystalline powder at less than 600 °C. Chemical bonding of the dried gel was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Morphology of powder calcined at 650 °C was analyzed by scanning electron microscope. Yttria-stabilized zirconia powders with the mean crystallite size of 6 nm were prepared successfully by this method.