Synthesis of YSZ thin films by the novel aqueous sol-gel citrate-precursor method

► The aqueous sol-gel synthesis method has been developed for the preparation of YSZ bulk powders. ► The thin films were produced on Si substrate using spin-coating technique. ► The XRD patterns indicated the formation of monophase cubic crystal structure YSZ. ► The agglomerated nanosized YSZ crystallites were obtained at 800 °C. ► The ionic conductivity and activation energy were similar to that of bulk YSZ.