Synthesis of nanocrystalline powders for oxide ceramics by microwave plasma pyrolysis

Pyrolytically prepared ceramic powders usually exhibit excellent homogeneity and small grain sizes. The energy efficiency of those methods for synthesis is, particularly in systems heated electrically, very poor. The situation can be improved drastically using a microwave plasma as a source of energy. This has been confirmed by the synthesis of alumina- and zirconia-based ceramic powders for which an efficiency of more than 80% was found. Aqueous solutions of nitrates of zirconium, yttrium, and aluminum were used as starting materials. Electron microscopy revealed that, through proper selection of the experimental conditions, it is possible to obtain nanocrystalline powders with cubic structure. Because of the extreme conditions during synthesis, it is possible to prepare solid solutions in systems without solubility