Low-agglomerated yttria nanopowders via decomposition of sulfate-doped precursor with transient morphology

The fabrication peculiarities of low-agglomerated yttria (Y2O3) nanopowders via thermal decomposition of sulfate-doped precursor with transient morphology were studied. It was determined that Y2(OH)5(NO3)x(CO2)y(SO4)z·nH2O (n=1-2) crystalline precursor underwent fragmentation and decomposition into isolated quasi-spherical Y2O3 particles upon calcination. Effect was connected with minimizing the free energy of the plate-like crystallites via reducing the contact surface until to the moment of spheroidization and attainment of isolation that occurred at T=1100 °C. Residual sulfate ions slowed down the surface diffusion during heat treatment thus retaining quasy-spherical morphology and low aggregation degree of Y2O3 nanopowders. Sulfate-doped yttria nanopowders with medium particle size of 53±13 nm possessed improved sinterability in comparison with undoped ones arising from finer particle size, narrower particle distribution and lower agglomeration degree.

Graphical abstractThe micrographs of Y2(OH)5(NO3)x(CO2)y(SO4)z·nH2O precursor with transient morphology (a) and low-agglomerated Y2O3 nanopowders calcined at T=1100°C (b)Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide