Nanocrystalline zirconia-yttria system–a Raman study

Nano sized zirconia (ZrO2) powders doped with different amount of yttria (Y2O3) (3, 5 and 8 mol%) were prepared through coprecipitation method. The crystallite size estimated from the X-ray peak broadening is around 10 nm. Phase identification was carried out using XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopic study of the synthesized materials show clear evidence of the presence of single phase cubic structure in the case of 8 mol% Y2O3 doped fully stabilized zirconia (8Y-FSZ); tetragonal phase in the case of zirconia doped with 3 mol% Y2O3 (3Y-TZP-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) and a mixture of cubic and tetragonal phases for 5 mol% Y2O3 doped partially stabilized zirconia (5Y-PSZ). Raman technique is therefore an effective tool to distinguish the phases present in the calcined nano sized powders of zirconia.