Nonisothermal Synthesis of Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia Nanopowder through Oxalate Processing: II, Morphology Manipulation

A novel, nontraditional route for controlling the morphology of yttria‐stabilized zirconia nanopowders is explained. For understanding the real nature of yttrium zirconium oxalate nonisothermal decomposition and for the development of nanosize 3 mol% Y 2 O 3 ·97mol% ZrO 2 , mass spectrometry, X‐ray, and TEM investigation were used. Characteristics of zirconia crystallization under nonisothermal heating conditions were studied. Morphology evolution during Y‐Zr oxalate nonisothermal decomposition was investigated to optimize the heating schedule of calcination. The nonlinear heating regime has been used to produce nanosized Y 2 O 3 ‐stabilized tetragonal ZrO 2 powder with the finest primary crystallites and narrowest secondary aggregate size distribution.