Comparative studies on synthesis of nanocrystalline Sc2O3–Y2O3 doped zirconia (SYDZ) and YSZ solid solution via modified and classic Pechini method

Abstract

Nanocrystalline tetragonal Sc₂O₃ (3.5 mol%) and Y₂O₃ (0.5 mol%) doped zirconia (SYDZ and YSZ) solid solutions were prepared by modified and classic Pechini method, respectively. In this approach, zirconium oxynitrate, scandium and yttrium nitrate, citric acid (CA) and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGM) were used as the sources of Zr⁴⁺, Sc³⁺, Y³⁺, and the chelating and solvent agents, respectively. The SYDZ nanocrystals, synthesized with a 1Zr⁴⁺ : 4EGM : 4CA mole ratio in acidic medium (pH ∼1) at 700 °C, had a smaller particle size (15 ± 3 nm) than YSZ synthesized with the classic Pechini method. Also, our optimized synthesis was applied to a large scale elaboration by increasing the quantity of precursors. Finally, The optical properties of SYDZ nanocrystals were also investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy.