Nanosize NiO/YSZ powders produced by ICP technique

The plasma synthesis of nanosize NiO/ZrO2 and NiO/YSZ powders has been developed by introducing a mixture of coarse-grained zirconia, yttria and nickel oxide into an inductively coupled plasma flame. The average particle size of the prepared powder is in the range of 16-55 nm and specific surface al ea is 15-35 m(2) g(-1). The phase and granulometric composition of the powders produced depend on reagent concentration in the plasma flame and cooling rate, on the content of Y2O3 and NiO. In the NiO/ZrO2 system NiO increases the fraction of the metastable tetragonal phase of ZrO2 but in the NiO/YSZ system promotes formation of non-transformable t'-phase and cubic ZrO2. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.