Structural stabilization and strengthening of Li2ZrO3 -based ceramics by doping with Y2O3 and CeO2

Abstract

The study investigates the effect of modifying lithium metazirconate with yttrium and cerium oxides on the phase composition, structural parameters, and mechanical properties of lithium-containing ceramics. The samples were obtained by mechanochemical mixing followed by sintering at a temperature of 1000 ^◦ C . It was found that when adding Y₂O₃ and CeO₂ (0.01–0.15 M), substitution phases and
dispersed secondary inclusions are formed without significant disruption of the structural ordering of the main phase Li₂ZrO₃ . It has been shown that modification is accompanied by an increase in the stability of the obtained materials to single compression due to the effects of solid-solution and dispersion strengthening, and growth in the density of interphase boundaries. The most pronounced strengthening effect is achieved by using yttrium oxide, which provides higher values of critical failure load compared to cerium oxide. The obtained results can be used in the development of lithium-containing ceramics designed for operation under increased mechanical stress and high temperatures.