Citrate-nitrate gel transformation behavior during the synthesis of combustion-derived NiO-yttria-stabilized zirconia composite

NiO-yttria-stabilized zirconia powder mixtures were prepared from reactive citrate-nitrate gels using the combustion technique. The influence of the fuel/oxidant molar ratio in the precursor on the combustion rate and its thermal characteristics was studied by thermal analysis and evolved gas analysis. It was found that the precursor thermal decomposition properties depended strongly on the citrate/nitrate ratio prior to the combustion. Intermediate precursors and final powder ashes were also analyzed by x-ray diffraction.