Fabrication of Porous YSZ from ZnO-YSZ Cermet

Abstract

Porous YSZ(8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia) was prepared by an acid leaching of ZnO-YSZ composite. The ZnO-YSZ composites were obtained by two different methods, a 1450 °C sintering of the mechanical mixture of ZnO and YSZ powders or a decomposition of Zn(NO3)2 deposited on YSZ and a subsequent sintering. The XRD (X-ray diffraction) pattern of the composite indicated that it was a mixture of ZnO and YSZ even after the sintering. Sharp edge or round edge of YSZ was observed in SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) image of the porous-YSZ from the mixture of ZnO and YSZ, or Zn(NO3)2 deposited on YSZ, respectively. The porous YSZ from the composite having ZnO component greater than 60 wt% shows low mechanical strength. As the ZnO content of the composite increased, the porosity and gas permeability of the porous YSZ increased. From the result, it was suggested that ZnO is a candidate to generate pores in YSZ bulk or membrane.