Sc3+:Ce4+:Y3+ doped zirconia nanopowders (ScCeYSZ): Synthesis, thermal phase stability and hot corrosion behavior of spark plasma sintered body

This study aims to investigate the high-temperature phase stability and hot corrosion behavior of zirconia with triple doping of Sc3+, Ce4+ and Y3+ ions. FESEM result shows that the mean particle size of ScCeYSZ nanoparticles was 80–90 nm. Next, optimal samples regarding the highest high-temperature phase stability (1.9%Sc8.3%Ce1.8%YSZ, 1.1%Sc9.0%Ce1.8%YSZ and 0.5%Sc9.6%Ce1.8%YSZ) were consolidated at 1550 °C for 15 min via the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. A hot corrosion test was done in the presence of 45%Na2SO4+%55V2O5 salts on three samples at 900 °C for 2 h. Also, the results of hot corrosion were compared with ceramic resulting from the nanostructured YSZ bulk sample (nanoYSZ).Based on the X-ray diffraction results, the formation of the non-transformable tetragonal phase is confirmed in the synthesized nanopowders. Also, the phase and microstructural results after hot corrosion of sintered samples show the formation of a monoclinic phase and destructive YVO4 crystals and quasi-cubic CeO2 crystals on the surface of sintered samples. The results indicated that the sample containing 1.8% scandia, 8.3% ceria, and 1.9% yttria had the highest phase stability and hot corrosion resistance (low monoclinic percentage and low leaching of stabilizer elements of Sc3+:Ce4+:Y3+ from zirconia lattice and low depth of molten salt).