LiNO3 molten salt assisted synthesis of spherical nano-sized YSZ powders in a reverse microemulsion system

Spherical nano-sized YSZ (yttria stabilized ZrO2) powders were successfully synthesized via a reverse microemulsion system. The water droplets in the microemulsion system of yclohexane/water/span85/Triton X-100/hexyl alcohol can act as the nano-reactors which solubilize zirconium oxychloride and ammonia water separately. The minute original reactors are favor to the formation of nano-sized spherical YSZ powders and the dispersibility of the powders can be controlled effectually by adjusting the weight ratio of the LiNO3 molten salt to the precursor. The phase transformation from cubic to monoclinic starts at and 500 °C and finally monoclinic and cubic phase with increased crytallinity coexist at 800 °C. The effect of LiNO3 molten salt in the formation of YSZ powders was also discussed.