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

摘要

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) Zr_0·9Y_0·1O_1·95 (m = 0·2, 0·3, 0·4, 0·5 and 0·6), from a precursor obtained by mixing NiO, Y₂O₃ 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.