Increasing Sample Temperature Research Articles

Neutral donors confined in semiconductor coupled quantum dot-rings: Position-dependent properties and optical transparency phenomenon

Electronic properties of a neutral donor confined in a GaAs coupled quantum dot-ring covered by a Al0.3Ga0.7As matrix were calculated using the finite element method under the effective mass and the envelope function approximations. The proposed model is set up to fit a realistic coupled quantum dot-ring geometry revealed by atomic force microscopy images. The results show that the energy levels and the transition energies in the presence of an electric field strongly depend on the donor center’s angular position. Furthermore, the total optical absorption coefficient is calculated within the two-level approximation and the matrix density formalism. The absorption spectrum shows that the system can be tuned between 5 and 30meV. Also, an optical transparency effect for different configurations characterized by specific donor center’s angular positions and electric field values is seen. Finally, a novel redshift is observed when the sample temperature increases.

Assessing refrigerated preservation performance using Listeria predictive microbiology models and temperature data: Refrigerator performance indicator and time-temperature equivalent.

Time-temperature data for queso fresco (QF) cheese varieties stored in a residential refrigerator operating at 5°C and a predictive microbiology secondary model for Listeria monocytogenes in QF were used to estimate a refrigerator performance indicator (RPI) of microbial preservation. RPI values were used to assess how compressor technology (single [SS] and variable speed [VS]), ambient temperature (21.1°C [LT] and 32.2°C [HT]), and refrigerator load (22.5kg regular load and 39kg higher load) affected preservation performance. All deterministic and probabilistic RPI estimations slightly exceeded the desirable 1.0 value, i.e., the variable temperatures for the QF kept in the refrigerator were worse than keeping it constantly at the temperature recommended by food safety agencies for QF. Furthermore, the mean comparison of estimates of the time-temperature equivalent indicator previously developed by French researchers showed similar behavior to those observed for RPI. Finally, statistical analysis showed that Tambient was the factor with the highest impact on refrigerator performance because of its impact on the sample temperature increase during door openings and when exposed to ambient temperature during product use. This highlights the need to reduce the time for product temperature recovery by improving the compressor operation logic. Also important are consumer behavior changes such as a reduction in product exposure to ambient temperature and in the door opening duration and frequency. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study demonstrated how a quantitative tool (RPI) can assess refrigerator preservation performance. Although the findings presented can be applied to any cold chain segment, the data used was collected for its weakest link, the domestic refrigerator. Surveys show that 77% of them operate above the recommended 4°C. The RPI methodology is ready for use by refrigerator designers to assess performance improvements possible by modifications of the compressor operation logic. Moreover, it can be integrated into smart-hubs monitoring the frequency and duration of refrigerator door openings to inform consumers when their habits are compromising the preservation performance of the refrigerator.

Investigation of Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles’ Behavior in a Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field for Medical Applications

This work raises the hypothesis that it is possible to use ferromagnetic carbon nanotubes filled with iron to hyperthermally destroy cancer cells in a radiofrequency electromagnetic field. This paper describes the synthesis process of iron-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Fe-MWCNTs) and presents a study of their magnetic properties. Fe-MWCNTs were synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). Appropriate functionalization properties of the nanoparticles for biomedical applications were used, and their magnetic properties were studied to determine the heat generation efficiency induced by exposure of the particles to an external electromagnetic field. The response of the samples was measured for 45 min of exposure. The results showed an increase in sample temperature that was proportional to concentration. The results of laboratory work were compared to the simulation using COMSOL software.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) of animal fat (lard): Efficient sample preparation for onsite analysis and influence of sample temperature on the signal intensity and plasma parameters

We report an efficient sample preparation method (freezing) for onsite fat and meat analysis via a specially designed thermoelectric cooling and temperature-controlling system. This investigation also focused on the effect of phase change on the sensitivity and reproducibility of LIBS emission signals and plasma parameters. The plasma emissions of animal fats (lard) were recorded when the sample was frozen (−2 °C), fluid (15 °C), and in a liquid state (37 °C) with a thermoelectric cooling system. At each temperature, the plasma emissions were acquired at laser pulse energy from 50 to 300 mJ and detector gate delay (DGD) from 0.5 to 5 μs. With increasing sample temperature, the DGD, where the optical emission intensity reached a maximum, decreased. At a laser pulse energy of 200 mJ and a sample temperature of −2 °C, the emission signals increased fourfold, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improved tenfold, and the self-absorption in the emission lines decreased significantly. The repeatability of the emission signals and plasma parameters of frozen and liquid fat samples was determined using the relative standard deviation (RSD) of Se I (473.08 nm) and K I (766.48 nm) emission lines. The RSDs of the emission signals improved from 40 to 18 % and 37 to 16 %, whereas the shot-to-shot RSDs of the electron temperature and electron number density get improved from 11 to 6 % and 12 to 6.8 %, respectively.

Anomalous band bending in the (K 0.8 Na 0.2) 0.8 Fe 1.8 Se 2 superconductor

Iron dichalcogenides intercalated with alkali metal atoms attract the attention of physicists due to their unusual natural phase separation, in which superconducting clusters are formed at the boundaries of the antiferromagnetic phase. In this work, using photoelectron spectroscopy, we discovered an unusual effect that presumably arises due to this phase separation. We studied the temperature dependences of the photoelectron spectra of Se 3d, Fe 3p and the valence band at temperatures above and below Tc ≈ 27 K of the compound (K0.8Na0.2)0.8Fe1.8Se2 with a unique substitution of alkali metal atoms. A strong temperature dependence of both the valence band and core levels was discovered: we observed a strong broadening of the spectra, which monotonically decreased with increasing sample temperature, while the temperature changes were cyclic. We believe that this broadening is associated with the appearance of space charges in the dielectric matrix, which leads to band bending. Moreover, the shape of the potential arising under the surface of a given compound was reconstructed, and an estimate was obtained for the relative amount of the superconducting phase. The results obtained will help to better understand the physical processes occurring in this compound.

Cryogenic fracturing using liquid nitrogen on granite at elevated temperatures: a case study for enhanced geothermal systems in Kazakhstan

Cryogenic fracturing using liquid nitrogen (LN2) is a novel stimulation technology that enhances porosity, permeability, and rock-fluid contact area in subsurface formations targetted for geothermal energy extraction. In our experimental study, granite cores collected from the Zhylgyz region in South Kazakhstan were equilibrated at various elevated temperatures before treatments involving LN2 exposure time. Compression, Brazilian, and fracture toughness tests were performed on granite with starting temperatures ranging from 100 to 500 °C to quantify the impact of initial temperature on cryogenic fracturing and to compare with baseline geomechanical tests at 50 °C without LN2 exposure. The results show that LN2 cooling of hot granite induces mechanical rock failure and permeability enhancement. Moreover, the degree of thermo-fracturing augments with initial granite temperature, total freezing time, and number of freezing–thawing cycles. The peak load before failure of granite specimens, both in compression and Brazilian tests, reduces with the increased sample temperature difference and length of LN2 treatment. The fracture toughness of our semi-circular bend (SCB) LN2-treated specimens diminished with increasing temperature difference between granite and boiling point. In both experimental LN2 treatment processes, the specimens with an initial temperature of 500 °C before LN2 treatment formed many new fissures and extensions of pre-existing ones, showing that the plastic behavior is augmented. While cryo-fracturing experimental confirmation is recommended with site-specific samples in planning geothermal operations, these results in our work indicate a threshold downhole temperature, e.g., > 300 °C, for enhanced stimulation outcomes.

Piston-cylinder cell made of Ni–Cr–Al alloy for magnetic susceptibility measurements under high pressures in pulsed high magnetic fields

We developed a metallic pressure cell made of 56Ni–40Cr–4Al (Ni–Cr–Al) alloy for use with a non-destructive pulse magnet and a magnetic susceptibility measurement apparatus with a proximity detector oscillator (PDO) in pulsed magnetic fields of up to 51 T under pressures of up to 2.1 GPa. Both the sample and sensor coil of the PDO were placed in the cell so that the magnetic signal from Ni–Cr–Al would not overlay the intrinsic magnetic susceptibility of the sample. A systematic investigation of the Joule heating originating from metallic parts of the pressure cell revealed that the increase in sample temperature is negligible at 1.4 K in magnetic fields of up to 40 T in the field-ascending process for the maximum applied magnetic field of 51 T. The effectiveness of our apparatus was demonstrated by investigating the pressure dependence of the magnetization process of the triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Ba3CoSb2O9.

Living Material with Temperature-Dependent Light Absorption.

Engineered living materials (ELMs) exhibit desirable characteristics of the living component, including growth and repair, and responsiveness to external stimuli. Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a promising constituent of ELMs because they are very tractable to genetic engineering, produce heterologous proteins readily, and grow exponentially. However, seasonal variation in ambient temperature presents a challenge in deploying ELMs outside of a laboratory environment because E. coli growth rate is impaired both below and above 37 °C. Here, a genetic circuit is developed that controls the expression of a light-absorptive chromophore in response to changes in temperature. It is demonstrated that at temperatures below 36 °C, the engineered E. coli increase in pigmentation, causing an increase in sample temperature and growth rate above non-pigmented counterparts in a model planar ELM. On the other hand, at above 36 °C, they decrease in pigmentation, protecting the growth compared to bacteria with temperature-independent high pigmentation. Integrating the temperature-responsive circuit into an ELM has the potential to improve living material performance by optimizing growth and protein production in the face of seasonal temperature changes.

Realization of electron transpiration cooling: LaB6 heated by a plasma glow

Electron transpiration cooling has previously been predicted to be an alternative cooling mechanism for leading edges of aerospace platforms traveling at extreme velocities, where thermoelectric materials shaped as leading edges manage heat loads. Here, thermo-electron emitting LaB6 ceramics with blunt edges were placed between two conical-shaped electrodes, and a plasma glow was ignited to heat the sample. Analysis of current–voltage (I–V) curves demonstrated that insertion of LaB6 into the plasma column resulted in an increase in the electron density of the plasma, evidencing thermally stimulated electron emission. With increasing sample temperature to 1200 K, Δne increased by ∼4 × 1010 #/cm3, the electron temperature (Te) decreased from ∼8 eV (1000 K) to 2.5 eV, and the emission begins to appear to become space charge-limited. Richardson's analysis of the temperature dependence of the electron emission in the region of ion saturation, yielded an activation energy consistent with the work function of LaB6. Modulation of the LaB6 surface temperature (ΔT = 10 K) and the plasma current (ΔI = 70 μA) under electric voltage (80 V) applied between the sample and current probe was demonstrated. The results show for the first time the feasibility of electron transpiration cooling effects under plasma conditions similar to that of aerothermal environments.

Influence of sample temperature and ambient argon pressure on LIBS spectra of extracted animal fat

This work explores the influence of sample temperature, ambient gas pressure, laser energy, and detector gate delay (DGD) on the LIBS emissions of extracted animal fat. The emissions from laser-induced plasma of extracted animal fat were acquired with varying sample temperatures, ambient argon pressure, laser energy, and detector gate delay. A thermoelectric system fitted with a temperature-controlling sensor was used to control the sample temperature. For maximum optical emission intensity, the detector gate delay (DGD) shifted toward a lower value with the increase in sample temperature for all ambient argon pressures. The nine-fold signal enhancement, ten times improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and significantly reduced self-absorption were observed in all detected emission lines recorded at 200 mJ laser energy –2 ºC sample temperature, 375 Torr ambient argon pressure, and 2 µs DGD. The repeatability of emission signals was evaluated by calculating the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the emission line (Zn I (636.23 nm)) at different sample temperatures, which improved from 35 % to 6 % when the sample changed from liquid to solid (frozen). During the semi-liquid form of fat, the decreasing ambient gas pressure did not significantly affect signal repeatability. In addition to diagnosing the fat plasma, the plasma temperature and electron number density have been evaluated as a function of sample temperature and ambient argon pressure.

Influence of Temperature Effects on CPT in Granular Soils by Discrete Element Modeling in 3D

This study employs a 3D discrete element method (DEM) to simulate cone penetration tests (CPTs) in granular soils, taking into account the effect of temperature. A coupled thermal mechanical model is developed to allow for heat transfer and storage in the granular materials. The CPT simulations are conducted on granular samples prepared at various temperatures, with the specific heat and velocity of thermal conductivity being identified as two critical factors that influence sample heating time. Additionally, the thermal expansion coefficient is a crucial parameter that is closely related to the porosity of the sample. As the sample temperature increases, the particles expand, resulting in an increase in cone resistance.

Investigation of the Influence of Nanoscale Porosity in the Interfacial Layers on the Mechanical Properties of Helium Plasma-Exposed Tungsten

Porous layers emergent from the bulk tungsten (W) interface subsequent to helium (He) plasma exposure, under conditions relevant to thermonuclear experiments, were found to significantly modulate the structural attributes of the W─as deduced through nanoscale indentation measurements. Plastic deformation of nanofibers constituting the fuzzy surface layer, along with an increased yield strength with layer depth, was quantified. A power-law relationship between the indentation modulus (Eind) and the porosity of the fuzzy W was indicated. The surface roughness of the bulk W increases with temperature prior to fuzz formation, determined by AFM. A decrease in the Eind of the bulk W underneath the fuzzy layer with increasing sample temperature when exposed to plasma, in agreement with molecular-dynamics computations, was observed.

The Effect of Disorder on Endogenous MAS-DNP: Study of Silicate Glasses and Crystals.

In dynamic nuclear polarization nuclear magnetic resonance (DNP-NMR) experiments, the large Boltzmann polarization of unpaired electrons is transferred to surrounding nuclei, leading to a significant increase in the sensitivity of the NMR signal. In order to obtain large polarization gains in the bulk of inorganic samples, paramagnetic metal ions are introduced as minor dopants acting as polarizing agents. While this approach has been shown to be very efficient in crystalline inorganic oxides, significantly lower enhancements have been reported when applying this approach to oxide glasses. In order to rationalize the origin of the difference in the efficiency of DNP in amorphous and crystalline inorganic matrices, we performed a detailed comparison in terms of their magnetic resonance properties. To diminish differences in the DNP performance arising from distinct nuclear interactions, glass and crystal systems of similar compositions were chosen, Li2OCaO·2SiO2 and Li2CaSiO4, respectively. Using Gd(III) as polarizing agent, DNP provided signal enhancements in the range of 100 for the crystalline sample, while only up to around factor 5 in the glass, for both 6Li and 29Si nuclei. We find that the drop in enhancement in glasses can be attributed to three main factors: shorter nuclear and electron relaxation times as well as the dielectric properties of glass and crystal. The amorphous nature of the glass sample is responsible for a high dielectric loss, leading to efficient microwave absorption and consequently lower effective microwave power and an increase in sample temperature which leads to further reduction of the electron relaxation time. These results help rationalize the observed sensitivity enhancements and provide guidance in identifying materials that could benefit from the DNP approach.

A study on overlapping effect of melt pools in powder bed fusion based on a novel prediction method

The unique advantages distinguishing additive manufacturing from other processing technologies, such as casting, forging, powder metallurgy and laser remelting originate from multiple melting and resulting overlapping of melt pools. However, it is difficult to predict or reconstruct the state of melt pool overlapping because melt pools are affected in each processing stage (deposition, melting, and solidification). Moreover, the impact of melt pool overlapping on microstructure and properties is still unclear . Here, a novel reconstruction model was established for melt pool overlapping by using Python during laser powder bed fusion. Melt-pool dimensions used in this model can be derived using experiments or predicted through normalized enthalpy. The “overlapping unit” was proposed to be a result of the periodic regulation of deposition, which helps in simplifying the microstructure formed through multiple melting and layer-wise deposition. Subsequently, the overlapping effect and its impact on elemental losses, defect formation, and microstructure evolution were investigated; the results were elucidated based on the average number of melting cycles (NMC) of the “overlapping unit” and the calculated thermal history. It can be concluded that the loss of elements with low boiling points (Mg in our alloy) is positively correlated with NMC due to repeated vaporization. Most incomplete defects are formed in regions melted less than twice, while hole defects are found predominantly in regions melted more than six times. Furthermore, the fine-grained area (average diameter ≤ 1 µm) tends to vary with both melt pool overlapping and heat accumulation. Moreover, an increase in sample temperature due to overlapping can augment the number and size of precipitates. Overall, this work offers a new way to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of materials by optimizing overlapping conditions.

Correcting thermal-emission-induced detector saturation in infrared spectroscopy.

We found that temperature-dependent infrared spectroscopy measurements (i.e., reflectance or transmittance) using a Fourier-transform spectrometer can have substantial errors, especially for elevated sample temperatures and collection using an objective lens. These errors can arise as a result of partial detector saturation due to thermal emission from the measured sample reaching the detector, resulting in nonphysical apparent reduction of reflectance or transmittance with increasing sample temperature. Here, we demonstrate that these temperature-dependent errors can be corrected by implementing several levels of optical attenuation that enable convergence testing of the measured reflectance or transmittance as the thermal-emission signal is reduced, or by applying correction factors that can be inferred by looking at the spectral regions where the sample is not expected to have a substantial temperature dependence.

Estimation of Magnetic Gilbert Damping at High Temperature: An Approach of Ferromagnetic Resonance Study

High-temperature time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy, an updated version of the pump-probe laser technique, enables one to measure the magnetization dynamics at elevated temperatures and is established for the first time. An understanding of the damping mechanism with its dependence on temperature for highly anisotropic ferromagnetic materials is a crucial step toward the developmental approach for spintronic devices. So, in this work, we studied the magnetization dynamics of tetragonally distorted, highly anisotropic ultrathin Fe0.5Co0.5 films at elevated temperatures. A clear dynamic response of magnetization was observed at elevated temperature and the damping decreased with increasing sample temperature. A monotonic decrease in resonance frequency and damping constant as a function of temperature can be ascribed due to the extrinsic contribution mechanism. The thermal dependence of the damping constant and effective anisotropic field measured from this ferromagnetic methodology is very important for such highly anisotropic materials for the development of memory devices. Based on the first-principle study and ferromagnetic resonance technology, we predict that the reduction of damping constant at elevated temperature might be influenced by two-magnon scattering instead of structural defects (tetragonal distortion), which can act as a potential origin.

High-temperature optical and radiative properties of alumina–silica-based ceramic materials for solar thermal applications

Optical and radiative properties of alumina–silica-based ceramic materials are determined in the spectral range of 3–10 μm as a function of temperature in the range of 150−650°C. The investigated materials are commercial CARBO HSP samples and in-house fabricated samples with sintering temperatures of 1400°C and 1500°C. Spectral normal emittance of the samples is measured in the spectral range of 3–20 μm using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A two-step inverse methodology consisting of analytical and numerical solutions to the radiative transfer equation is employed. The analytical solution is based on the modified two-flux approximation and the transport approximation, and is used to determine the transport scattering albedo. The iterative Monte Carlo ray-tracing method is used to obtain the transport extinction coefficient. The spectral normal emittance increases non-monotonically with the thermal treatment temperature of the samples due to the sintering extent increasing with the temperature during the preparation process. The spectral normal emittance of all investigated samples also increases non-monotonically with the increasing actual sample temperature. The maximum difference in total normal emittance at studied temperatures is 7.9%, 22% and 5.5% for the commercial sample and the in-house prepared samples sintered at 1400°C and 1500°C, respectively. With the sample temperature varying in the range of 150–650°C, the spectral normal emittance in the spectral range of 4–20 μm maximally varies by 23.2%, 44.3% and 23.4% for the commercial sample, and in-house prepared samples sintered at 1400°C and 1500°C, respectively. The transport scattering albedo decreases with increasing temperature for all samples in the considered spectral range. For all samples, the absorptive index increases non-monotonically with the increasing sample temperature. The most significant increase in the absorptive index, as the sample temperature increases, is found in the spectral range of 3–5 μm for the commercial material, and it increases by up to 31.6%, 116%, 170%, 186% and 194% when the temperature increases from 150°C to 250°C, 350°C, 450°C, 550°C and 650°C, respectively.

In-Situ/Operando X-Ray CT Characterisation of Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells during Thermal Failure

The safety of concerns of lithium-ion batteries continues to be a prevalent obstacle toward their widespread application from vehicle electrification to space exploration. Aside from the highly oxidising and reducing electrode materials, their safety is compounded by an inherent drawback of poor heat dissipation [1]. High-speed imaging with in-situ/operando X-ray CT has been used extensively to study various lithium-ion battery safety features and failure mechanisms [2][3], including thermal failure [4]. However, these are exclusively using synchrotron X-ray sources which are limited in terms of both access and data recording capabilities: high frame rates require the data collection window to be restricted to a few seconds. During lithium-ion battery failure, there are several changes to a cell structure leading up to thermal runaway (TR) which can take minutes, and as a result are often missed. Here, we present an instrument that simulates thermal failure for lab-based radiography at slower imaging speeds and longer recording lengths, which has been validated by correlative synchrotron measurements. The failure mechanisms within a fully charged (100 % SOC, 4.2 V) commercially available LiCoO2 cathode and graphite anode pouch cell (651628-2C, AA Portable Power Corp) rated at 210 mAh are investigated.Three samples are studied using lab-based radiography at a frame rate of 3.75 fps with a 16.1 µm pixel resolution and, for comparison, an additional three samples are studied using synchrotron X-ray sources at a higher speed of 20,000 fps with a 13.3 µm pixel resolution. For the six samples investigated, the total time taken from a start temperature of 80 °C to TR is approximately 20 minutes and the onset temperatures for TR are recorded within the range of 196 °C to 210 °C. The beginning of the TR event (defined as a sample temperature increase greater than 15 °C s-1), where the effects to the electrode structure are the most catastrophic, lasts for approximately 1 s. Operando radiographic images during this event reveal that the structural displacement of electrode layers begins at the centre of the cell and propagates outwards in a wave-like motion. The electrode displacement, as a result, is quantified by cross-correlating Gabor signals and spatiotemporal mapping [5] in both types of datasets. For the lab-based radiography, data is recorded from the start temperature to TR (lasting approximately 20 minutes), and reactions such as the electrolyte decomposition, ca. 105 °C, and separator melting, ca.130 °C are characterised in the context of electrode deformation and gas evolution. Investigations of pre- and post-failure 3D X-ray CT images further verify the uniformity of the pristine (or pre-failure) cell assembly as well as the estimated post-failure behaviour between samples. Finally, by comparison with correlative synchrotron measurements, the instrument for inducing thermal failure for lab-based X-ray CT is proven to be a viable and more accessible method to investigate thermal failure within a 210 mAh pouch cell. While synchrotron data has a higher-speed imaging advantage, it is limited to only recording the short TR event at a high temporal resolution. Whereas continuous imaging in lab-based radiography has the benefit of measuring the slower architectural changes taking place up to TR, albeit at a marginally lower spatial resolution.

Examination of the Effect of RF Field on Fe-MWCNTs and Their Application in Medicine

Carbon nanotubes are a material with excellent properties, which result in a wide range of possible applications, from electronics to medicine. This paper presents the investigation of the possibility of Fe-MWCNTs’ application as heating agents for targeted thermal ablation of cancer cells, which could lead to the development of an innovative cancer treatment method. The article describes the process of synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes filled with iron (Fe-MWCNTs) and provides an examination of their magnetic properties. Fe-MWCNTs were synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). Relevant properties of the nanoparticles in terms of functionalization for biomedical applications were exploited and their magnetic properties were investigated to determine the heat generation efficiency induced by exposure of the particles to an external electromagnetic field. The reaction of the samples was measured for 40 min of exposure. The results showed an increase in sample temperature that was proportional to the concentration.

Direct Microwave Sintering of Poorly Coupled Ceramics in Electrochemical Devices

The use of microwaves as the energy source for synthesis and sintering of ceramics offers substantial advantages compared to conventional gas-fired and electric resistance furnaces. Benefits include much shorter processing times and reaching the sintering temperature more quickly, resulting in superior final product quality. Most oxide ceramics poorly interact with microwave irradiation at low temperatures; thus, a more complex setup including a susceptor is needed, which makes the whole process very complicated. This investigation pursued a new approach, which enabled us to use microwave irradiation directly in poorly coupled oxides. In many solid-state electrochemical devices, the support is either metal or can be reduced to metal. Metal powders in the support can act as an internal susceptor and heat the entire cell. Then sufficient interaction of microwave irradiation and ceramic material can occur as the sample temperature increases. This microwave heating and exothermic reaction of oxidation of the support can sinter the ceramic very efficiently without any external susceptor. In this study, yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and a Ni-YSZ cermet support were used as an example. The cermet was used as the support, and a YSZ electrolyte was coated and sintered directly using microwave irradiation without the use of any susceptor. The results were compared to a similar cell prepared using a conventional electric furnace. The leakage test and full cell power measurement results revealed a fully leak-free electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy and density measurements show that microwave sintered samples have lower open porosity in the electrode support than conventional heat treatment. This technique offers an efficient way to directly use microwave irradiation to sinter thin film ceramics without a susceptor.