Title: Particle atomic layer deposition of alumina for sintering yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia

Abstract

The addition of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) as a sintering aid to yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) reduces the required densification temperature. Sintering aids are incorporated using a number of processes which can lead to ambiguity when determining the effect of the sintering aid on the densification mechanism. In this study, a novel method for sintering aid addition, Particle Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), was used to deposit an amorphous Al₂O₃ thin film on YSZ particles. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the deposition of conformal Al₂O₃ thin films on the surface of the YSZ particles. The addition of Al₂O₃ to YSZ reduced the temperature at which densification began by ~75 degrees C, and 2.2 wt% Al₂O₃ addition resulted in a minimum activation energy for the intermediate stage of densification. This concentration is well in excess of the solubility limit of Al₂O₃ in YSZ, showing that Al₂O₃ does not enhance the densification of YSZ solely by dissolving into the YSZ lattice and activating volume diffusion. The addition of 0.7 wt% Al₂O₃ with one Particle ALD cycle enhanced the ionic conductivity of YSZ by 23% after sintering at 1350 degrees C for 2 hours, demonstrating that dense parts with high oxygen ion conductivities can be produced aftermore » sintering at reduced temperatures. One Particle ALD cycle is a fast, easily scaled-up process that eliminates the use of solvents and has substantial cost/performance advantages over conventional processing.« less

Authors:

O'Toole, Rebecca J.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "O'Toole, Rebecca J."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-8785-206X"

Bartel, Christopher J. ^[1]; Kodas, Maila U. ^[1]; Horrell, Alexa J. ^[1]; Ricote, Sandrine  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Ricote, Sandrine"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7565-0284"

Sullivan, Neal P. ^[2]; Gump, Christopher J. ^[3]; Musgrave, Charles B. ^[4]; Weimer, Alan W.  ^[1]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Weimer, Alan W."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-2471-349X"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
3. ALD NanoSolutions, Inc. Broomfield CO (United States)
4. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

Publication Date:

Wed Sep 19 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1480237

Report Number(s):

NREL/JA-5K00-72691
Journal ID: ISSN 0002-7820

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of the American Ceramic Society

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 102; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 0002-7820

Publisher:

American Ceramic Society

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; atomic layer deposition; sintering; thin films