Stabilization of the cubic phase in zirconia-scandia by niobium oxide addition

Zirconia-10 mol% scandia (ScSZ) with additions of x mol% niobium oxide (x=0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1) nanoparticles were chemically synthesized. The introduction of niobium as a codopant is proposed for stabilization of the cubic phase of zirconia-scandia solid electrolyte. Several compositions were synthesized by a solution method to ensure chemical homogeneity. The thermal analysis results reveal that the addition of niobium oxide reduced the crystallization temperature of zirconia. The morphology of the calcined powders consists of agglomerated nanoparticles with 6.5 nm mean crystallite size. In situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction evidenced the full stabilization of the cubic phase of zirconia-10 mol% scandia containing 0.5 mol% niobium oxide content. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.