Synthesis and thermal stability of monodisperse ZrO2@SiO2 core-shell submicron particles

3^rd International Conference and Expo on Ceramics and Composite Materials

June 26-27, 2017 Madrid, Spain

Maik Finsel, Gregor Dahl, Maria Hemme, Horst Weller and Tobias Vossmeyer

University of Hamburg, Germany

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

In recent years, zirconia (ZrO2) micro- and sub-microparticles have attracted considerable attention due to their outstanding properties, including chemical inertness, thermal stability and high refractive index. They are suited for a broad variety of applications ranging from fuel cells, catalysis, electro- and bioceramics to building blocks in photonic structures. The latter are promising materials for high-temperature applications, including thermal barrier coatings (TBC) and structural colors (SC). The thermal stability, surface smoothness and optical properties of zirconia particles can be improved or modified by encapsulation with a suitable shell material. By using different types of shells, e.g. Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2 or polymers, desired properties of the resulting core-shell composites for various applications are achievable. For example, silica shells ensure a strong refractive index contrast for application as structural colors. Previously, it was shown that silica shells could be grown on ZrO2 cores after surface modification with organic additives (polymer, citric acid). However, such additives most likely preclude high-temperature applications. For the preparation of ZrO2@SiO2 core-shell sub-microparticles, we developed a straightforward approach without the need of additional organic capping agents by using SiO2 seeds as self-adhesive layer. The zirconia core particles were synthesized according to the solgel method by Widoniak et al. modified to achieve smaller diameters. In the pre- encapsulation step, silica seeds are formed on the core surface. The silica shell can then grow smoothly on its self-adhesive layer and its thickness is controlled by successive addition of silica precursor. The obtained core-shell particles withstand temperatures up to 1000�°C whereas size-comparable zirconia particles disintegrate when heated to 800�°C. Also, core-shell particles synthesized using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as interfacial coupling agent disintegrate when heated to 800�°C, most likely due to decomposition of PVP. Using XRD, SEM and cross-sectional TEM characterization, we show how grain growth and phase transitions are influenced by the SiO2 encapsulation of ZrO2 submicron particles. Additionally, the thermal stability can be improved by doping zirconia cores with yttrium or yttrium/lanthanum, as recently shown for zirconia microparticles.

Biography :

Maik Finsel conducted his Master’s thesis investigating the mechanical properties of nanoparticle composites (University of Hamburg) and spent one semester in Denmark (Southern University of Denmark, Odense) working on transition metal complexes. He gained expertise in the synthesis and characterization of doped and undoped zirconia microparticles doing his PhD at the University of Hamburg, Germany. He also works on the encapsulation of ceramic microparticles with silica and alumina to achieve dielectric core-shell particles for photonic high-temperature applications.

Email: finsel@chemie.uni-hamburg.de