Fabrication and sintering of fine yttria-doped ceria powder

Yttria-doped ceria powder was prepared from oxalate precursors. The oxalate coprecipitation bath parameters were closely monitored and found to influence the sintering behavior of the subsequently obtained oxide powders strongly. The use of concentrated (Ce,Y) metal nitrate solutions and dilute neutralized oxalic acid for coprecipitation were identified as the most-important parameters. Following calcination at 700°C, compacts of such powders were sintered to high density (98%) at 1400°C (4 h). Ball milling of the powder further reduced the sintering temperature. Dry milling, for tape-casting applications of the powder in particular, was more effective than wet milling. Tape-cast membranes were fired at 1400°C (2 h), with resulting densities of 98%.