Abstract

Experimental work is carried out to deal with the development of new synthesis techniques for the functional
materials such as yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and gadolinium zirconate used in the field of thermal barrier
coatings (TBC). Currently, TBCs are manufactured by dry route technologies, but such methods are directional
and often require costly investments and complicated operations. We have carried out significant work aimed at
developing sol-gel routes, which are non-directional methods, to prepare, by suitable chemical modifications,
nanocrystalline materials with a controlled morphology. The main advantage of this method is to decrease the
crystallization temperature, much lower than the conventional processes, allowing the synthesis of reactive
powders with nanometric particles size. In this research work, the formulation of an alkoxide sol has been
optimized to obtain homogeneous YSZ films. The films microstructures have been investigated using scanning
electron microscopy, and thermal property has been studied.