Tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transitions in nanocrystalline rare-earth-stabilized zirconia prepared by a mild hydrothermal method

Nanocrystalline 4-mol%-Sc2O3-stabilized zirconia (4ScSZ) and 4-mol%-Y2O3-stabilized zirconia (4YSZ) powders were prepared by a mild urea-based hydrothermal method. The as-prepared 4ScSZ and 4YSZ powders behaved with different tetragonal-monoclinic (t-m) transitions on calcination at temperatures between 400degrees and 1400degreesC. For the as-calcined 4ScSZ samples, the monoclinic phase fraction varies discontinuously with increasing temperature, i.e., first increases, then decreases, and finally increases again; whereas the monoclinic phase content reduces monotonously for the as-calcined 4YSZ samples, and only tetragonal phase is present over 1000degreesC. Such interesting results can be explained satisfactorily by considering the combined influences of crystallite size effect, microstrain, and the stabilization effect of the dopant. The microstrain relaxation is mainly responsible for the unusual phase transition in the 4ScSZ samples, while for the 4YSZ samples, the microstrain effect and crystallite size effect can be masked by the stabilization effect of the Y2O3 dopant due to its stronger stabilization capability.