Microwave processing: A potential technique for preparing NiO-YSZ composite and Ni-YSZ cermet

Abstract

In the present study, microwave energy (2-45 GHz) has been used to prepare nickel oxide-yttria stabilized zirconia (NiO-YSZ) composites of composition, mNiO-(1-m) Zr0.9Y0.1O1.95 (m = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6), from a precursor obtained by mixing NiO, Y2O 3 and monoclinic ZrO2 in their stoichiometric ratio. The composites have been prepared by conventional processing also to compare the products with those of microwave processed products. During comparison, it was observed that NiO-YSZ composites of each composition obtained by microwave processing had cubic phase of YSZ while in the conventionally prepared composites of compositions, m = 0.2 and 0.3, monoclinic, tetragonal and cubic phases of zirconia existed instead of its pure cubic phase. The composites were reduced to yield Ni-YSZ. © Indian Academy of Sciences.