We use Y-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) as a promising single-crystal wafer material for the epitaxial growth of transition metal dichalcogenides applicable both physical (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. MoS2 layers grown on YSZ (111) exhibit 6-fold symmetry in-plane relationship with (1010) || (211) YSZ. The PVD sub-monolayer thin films show nucleation islands lateral size up to 100...

A cermet (ceramic metal composite) of Nickel and Yttria stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) is the most commonly used fuel electrode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). The properties of such cermets depend strongly on their microstructure. Several Ni/YSZ cermet samples with different Ni content and Ni and 8YSZ grain size have been prepared. The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of these samples was mea...

This paper presents new findings on ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of zirconium hydroxyl acetate precursor drops whose sizes were precisely measured using laser light diffraction technique. Precursor concentration plays a predominant role in determination of product particle size. At 0.01 wt% precursor concentration, conventional spray pyrolysis at 750°C using precursor drops 5–8 !m in diameter, ge...

This study investigated the feasibility of depositing graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-reinforced yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite coatings. The coatings were deposited from an ethanol-based mixed YSZ and GNP suspension using plasma spraying (SPS). Raman spectroscopy confirmed presence GNPs in matrix, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed a desired columnar microstructure wi...

Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) ceramics have been used for various engineering applications or as a solid electrolyte in oxygen sensors and fuel cells. The performance YSZ strongly depends on the microstructure which is directly determined by characteristic of raw powder. In this paper, synthetic methods powder its starting material are first overviewed, then formation mechanism explained, focusing...

The present in situ study of electrochemically induced processes occurring in Cr/Ni bilayers in contact with a YSZ electrolyte aims at a molecular-level understanding of the fundamental aspects related to the durability of metallic interconnects in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The results demonstrate the potential of scanning photoelectron microspectroscopy and imaging to follow in situ the ...

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) has been used as a thermal/environmental barrier coating for gas turbine engine blades. Current methods of fabrication include air plasma spraying (APS) and electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). The APS technique results in a coating that loses effectiveness with thermal cycling. The EB-PVD technique deposits a columnar microstructure which accommoda...

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a very powerful technique for materials characterization, providing information relating to morphology, composition, and crystal structure. Selected area diffraction patterns (SADPs) are crystallographic data that can be obtained using a TEM instrument. Conventional identification through SADP/TEM is tricky and tedious, thereby increasing the difficulty...

Using first principles simulations and the Monte Carlo method, the optimal structure of the triple-phase boundaries (TPB) of the Ni/Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) anode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is determined. Based on the new TPB microstructures we reveal different reaction pathways for H2 and CO oxidation. In contrast to what was believed in previous theoretical studies, we find tha...