Facile preparation of well-defined macroporous yttria-stabilized zirconia monoliths via sol-gel process accompanied by phase separation

Yttria-stabilized zirconia monoliths with well-defined macropores and high porosity have been successfully fabricated via sol-gel process accompanied by phase separation. Propylene oxide acts as an acid consumer to mediate sol-gel process, and poly (ethylene oxide) is used to induce phase separation. Ethylene glycol is applied as chelating agent, and formamide serves as drying control chemical additive to inhibit cracking during drying stage. Proper proportion of the starting compositions allows the generation of well-defined macroporous YSZ monoliths with co-continuous skeletons and porosity as high as more than 60 %. The dried gels are amorphous and crystalline of ZrO2 precipitates after heat treatment between 400 and 1200 A degrees C without formation of monoclinic ZrO2, which indicating a wide application prospects.