Fabrication and Characterization of CeO2-Doped Yttria-Stabilized ZrO2 Composite Particles

The present study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of cerium oxide (CeO2)-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite particles, aiming to enhance the durability of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in high-temperature applications such as gas turbines and aircraft engines. The incorporation of CeO2 into the YSZ matrix was motivated by the need to address the limitations of YSZ coatings, particularly their phase transformation and thermal degradation at temperatures exceeding 1300 degrees C. The synthesis of a composite with a core-shell structure, where CeO2 is doped into YSZ particles, was pursued to improve the thermal stability and reduce the thermal conductivity of the material. The fabrication process involved surface treatment of YSZ particles with HCl and NH4OH to enhance their dispersion characteristics, followed by the adsorption of CeO2 nanoparticles precipitated from Ce precursors. The study revealed a reduction in the average particle size and improved the dispersion stability of the surface-treated YSZ. Notably, base-treated YSZ exhibited increased CeO2 adsorption due to the strong interaction between Ce ions and surface hydroxyl groups. The successful formation of the YSZ@CeO2 core-shell structure was confirmed through XRD, HR-TEM, and SAED analyses. The study suggest that base-treated YSZ@CeO2 composites have the potential to extend the operating life and improve the performance of TBCs under extreme temperature conditions, which may contribute to the development of more resilient thermal barrier systems.