Ceramics International最新文献

{"title":"Boron-doped soda-lime glass as a coating for dental multilayer zirconias: Influence on mechanical properties, fatigue behavior, color, and translucency","authors":"Camila da Silva Rodrigues,&nbsp;Kiara Serafini Dapieve,&nbsp;Rita Adriana Souza da Silva de Assis,&nbsp;Manassés Tercio Vieira Grangeiro,&nbsp;Tiago Moreira Bastos Campos,&nbsp;Luiz Felipe Valandro,&nbsp;Renata Marques de Melo","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the mechanical properties, fatigue behavior, color, and translucency of 4 mol% yttria-stabilized (4Y-PSZ) and 5 mol% yttria-stabilized (5Y-PSZ) after application of an experimental boron-doped soda-lime glass (SL), compared with a commercial glaze (G). Specimens of 4Y-PSZ (Katana STML) and 5Y-PSZ (Katana UTML) were sintered, then coated with either SL or G (Cerabien ZR) and fired. The coated discs were bonded to epoxy resin and subjected to stepwise fatigue testing (initial load: 200 N, step size: 50 N, frequency: 20 Hz, cycles/step: 10,000). Fatigue failure load (FFL) and cycles to failure (CFF) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Mantel-Cox tests. Additional characterizations included translucency parameter (TP₀₀), color difference (ΔE₀₀), roughness (atomic force microscopy), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and residual stresses. For 4Y-PSZ, fatigue performance was comparable between SL and G. However, 5Y-SL exhibited superior FFL and CFF compared with 5Y-G. The experimental SL produced lower roughness and ΔE₀₀, and higher TP₀₀ and hardness than G. Conversely, fracture toughness and surface compressive stress magnitude were greater with the commercial glaze. Zirconia crystals were precipitated within the experimental glass. Therefore, the boron-doped soda-lime glass enhanced the fatigue performance of 5Y-PSZ while producing less translucency and color alterations compared with the commercial glaze, particularly for 4Y-PSZ. Thus, the experimental glass represents a promising alternative coating for dental zirconias.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 44393-44402"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pore structure regulation and performance trade-offs in molten salt nanofluid composites supported by porous SiC ceramics","authors":"Zhening Zhang,&nbsp;Meiqian Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To improve the thermal transport, heat storage capacity, and shape the stability of molten salt thermal energy storage materials at elevated temperatures, a porous SiC ceramic-based composite integrated with molten salt nanofluid was developed. The composite was fabricated by melt infiltrating a NaCl–KCl molten salt nanofluid containing 1.0 wt% Al₂O₃ nanoparticles into porous SiC ceramic skeletons with controlled pore structures. The SiC skeletons concurrently provided structural shape stabilization and continuous pathways for heat conduction, while the influence of pore structure on infiltration behavior, thermal storage performance, thermal conductivity, and high-temperature static stability was systematically examined. Infiltration at 900 °C for 1 h was identified as the optimal condition. Higher porosity and larger pore sizes facilitated greater molten salt nanofluid loading and improved heat storage capacity. The high-porosity, large-pore sample achieved an average specific heat capacity of 1.331 J/(g·K), representing a 4.6% increase over the base salt. Al₂O₃ nanoparticles primarily lifted the specific heat capacity of the molten salt phase, partially offsetting the dilution effect of the SiC skeleton on mass-specific heat capacity. In contrast, the marked elevation in thermal conductivity was mainly attributed to the continuous SiC network. The composites exhibited apparent thermal conductivities of 5.75–11.37 W/(m·K), corresponding to 10.5–20.8 times those of the base salt. After static holding at 800 °C for 200 h under dry N₂, salt loss from the composite bodies ranged from 5.6% to 12.3%, while the thermal conductivity retention varied between 86.7% and 96.9%. TOPSIS evaluation combined with weight sensitivity analysis revealed clear pore-structure trade-offs: the low-porosity, small-pore sample ranked marginally first because of its higher salt retention and stability, whereas the medium-pore sample offered higher heat storage capacity and initial thermal conductivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 44876-44892"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low-temperature sintering optimization of borosilicate bioactive glass: Influence on thermal characteristics, bioactivity and biocompatibility in bone tissue engineering","authors":"Yasir Usman,&nbsp;Eun-Young Kang,&nbsp;Dae-Yong Jeong,&nbsp;Fauzia Iqbal,&nbsp;Aqsa Hameed","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.488","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.488","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Crystallization during thermal processing remains a major limitation in the fabrication of bioactive glass scaffolds, as it restricts the densification, alters dissolution behavior and compromises bioactivity. In this study, B₂O₃ was introduced at the expense of SiO₂ to the Ca-rich silicate bioactive glass composition (2.3% Na₂O, 2.3% K₂O, 35.6% CaO, 10%MgO, 2.6% P₂O₅, 47.2% SiO₂) to enhance thermal stability while preserving bioactivity. Glass compositions containing 0, 10, 20 mol % B₂O₃ were synthesized through melt-quenching route, and their thermal characteristics were systematically examined using differential scanning calorimetry and hot-stage microscopy. Borate substitution significantly suppressed crystallization, broadened the processing window, and enabled low-temperature sintering at 700°C for 20 mol% B₂O₃ composition (B20). From the thermal analysis, the optimal sintering temperature was determined to be 800°C for 0% and 10% compositions, while a lower temperature of 700°C was sufficient for 20% substituted glass compositions. Borate substitution influenced the shrinkage of the sintered pellets, which exhibited Vickers hardness values between 622 and 629 HV and linear shrinkage ranging from 25% to 31%. Notably, B20 retained a fully amorphous structure after sintering, exhibiting the highest sinterability parameter (172°C) and Hrubý coefficient (0.90) among the studied glasses. In vitro bioactivity tests in simulated body fluid indicated the formation of a hydroxycarbonate apatite-like layer, with the B20 glass demonstrating enhanced apatite precipitation compared to the parent silicate glass. Furthermore, in vitro biocompatibility studies using human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells revealed preserved cell morphology and maintained cell viability, indicating favorable cytocompatibility. These results demonstrate that borosilicate bioactive glasses with optimized B₂O₃ substitution offer improved low-temperature processability, enhanced bioactivity, and good biocompatibility, making them potential candidates for the fabrication of bioactive ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 46167-46176"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Band-selective high-emissivity ceramic-based photonic crystal infrared heating devices","authors":"Qikuan Cheng,&nbsp;Yi Yuan,&nbsp;Zhaohan Yu,&nbsp;Yuxi Qi,&nbsp;Guangjun Luo,&nbsp;Haotian Sun,&nbsp;Beibei Huang,&nbsp;Lu Zhang,&nbsp;Haiping Wang,&nbsp;Yunming Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving band-selective control of infrared emissivity is crucial for enhancing electric heating efficiency and minimizing energy loss in non-targeted spectral regions, such as lithium battery drying. Here, this work reports a photonic crystal infrared radiation heater (PC-IRH) that integrates an ITO/Ag/glass powder composite heating layer with a three-dimensional TiO₂ photonic crystal coating. Unlike conventional broadband infrared heaters or high-emissivity ceramic coatings, the PC-IRH uses the photonic band-gap effect of ordered TiO₂ microspheres to spectrally reshape the broadband thermal radiation generated by the underlying heating layer, selectively suppressing radiation in non-target bands while concentrating emission in the absorption window of the target material. TiO₂ microspheres synthesized via the sol-gel method, were deposited onto an ITO/Ag composite heating layer via screen printing, repeated roll-pressing, and high-temperature sintering to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal (PC) structure. By controlling the microsphere diameter and designing based on Bragg's law, the PC-IRH achieves an average emissivity of 91.1% and a peak of 99.4% in the 5.0∼9.6 μm range, and reaches thermal steady state within approximately 20 s. In NMP solvent drying tests, the PC-IRH reduces energy consumption by 18.4% and drying time by 28.7%, while significantly enhancing the mechanical properties of the resulting PVDF films. This work establishes a versatile strategy for material-specific, spectrally selective infrared heating with broad potential in energy-efficient thermal management and precision industrial processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 46395-46403"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Boosting red-emitting 5D0→7F2 transition in KSrBP2O8:Eu3+ phosphors via Si4+/Gd3+ Co-doping and charge compensation","authors":"Yujing Wang,&nbsp;Xiuyuan Zuo,&nbsp;Qianyi Lu,&nbsp;Yumeng Li,&nbsp;Tonghao Sun,&nbsp;Junshuo Zhang,&nbsp;Wenwen Shan,&nbsp;Xiujuan Geng,&nbsp;Hai Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Eu³⁺ doped KSrBP₂O₈ phosphors exhibits great potential for red-emitting boosting in light-emitting diodes owing to high color purity and low correlated color temperature. However, phosphors solely doped with Eu³⁺ suffer from insufficient red-light emission and low luminescence intensity limiting the practical application. Herein, a series of KSrBP₂O₈:Eu³⁺ phosphors doped by Si⁴⁺ and Gd³⁺ were prepared via a facile high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The as-synthesized phosphors possess outstanding luminescence performances, including high emission intensity and favorable color purity. Enhancement of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition was achieved through co-doping with Si⁴⁺ and Gd³⁺ ions, together with the introduction of charge compensators (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺). Continuous tuning of luminescent color was realized by modifying the local symmetry of the Eu³⁺ luminescent centers, thereby simultaneously improving red color purity and luminescence intensity. Specifically, the sample co-doped with Si⁴⁺ exhibited a 1.51-fold increase in luminescence intensity compared with the sample doped only with Eu³⁺, achieving chromaticity coordinates closest to those of standard red light. The sample co-doped with Gd³⁺ effectively sensitized the Eu³⁺ emission, with a 1.21-fold increase in luminescence intensity. Among the charge-compensated samples, Na⁺ doping produced the most significant improvement, increasing the luminescence intensity by 1.63 times. These co-doping strategies provide a reliable and versatile approach for enhancing the designability of the host lattice and the luminescent properties of KSrBP₂O₈:Eu³⁺ phosphors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 44279-44291"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lattice distortion-induced anomalous thermal enhancement in Yb3+/Er3+ Co-doped yttrium molybdate up-conversion phosphors","authors":"Jae Yong Jung,&nbsp;Jin Young Park,&nbsp;Soung Soo Yi,&nbsp;Sang Hyun Hwang,&nbsp;Sang Geon Park","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ co-doped YMoO₄ up-conversion phosphors were synthesized via a simple chemical route and systematically investigated. Rare-earth ion doping induced a noticeable shift of the dominant (112) diffraction peak, indicating lattice distortion that influences the up-conversion process. Under 980 nm excitation, the phosphors exhibited intense green emission originating from Er³⁺ transitions through efficient Yb³⁺–Er³⁺ energy transfer. The temperature-dependent photoluminescence showed an anomalous behavior, deviating from conventional thermal quenching, which is attributed to thermally assisted population redistribution between Er³⁺ energy levels and host lattice effects. Reliable optical thermometry performance was achieved based on the fluorescence intensity ratio method. In addition, the phosphors were incorporated into a PDMS matrix to fabricate flexible composites, which preserved identical emission characteristics when integrated onto a 980 nm infrared LED chip and demonstrated applicability in anti-counterfeiting systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 45090-45103"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictive drawing processes and properties of continuous basalt fibers guided by iron speciation","authors":"Jun Li,&nbsp;Huixing Dai,&nbsp;Huan Gao,&nbsp;Qian Li,&nbsp;Zhouyueyang Cheng,&nbsp;Xinjuan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.465","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.465","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses the unclear mechanisms by which iron speciation influences the spinnability and performance of continuous basalt fibers (CBFs), systematically investigating the regulatory role of iron speciation on their processing and properties, with the aim of establishing predictive processing guidelines based on iron forms. Eight basalt raw materials with total iron oxide (TFe₂O₃) contents ranging from 6.69 wt% to 15.69 wt% were analyzed. The results indicate that the structural role of iron fundamentally governs the melt structure, glass-forming ability, and crystallization kinetics. Fe²⁺ acts as a network modifier in [FeO₆] octahedral coordination, cleaving bridging oxygens and depolymerizing the silicate network, thereby reducing melt viscosity but accelerating crystallization. In contrast, Fe³⁺ primarily acts as a network former in [FeO₄] tetrahedral sites, enhancing network connectivity and stability. When the TFe₂O₃ content exceeds 14.87 wt%, samples completely lose spinnability due to excessive crystallization. The tensile strength of the fibers exhibits a volcano-shaped trend, peaking at 2455.5 MPa at an optimal iron content of 9.40 wt%. The Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ redox balance governs the critical trade-off between melt rheology and structural integrity. This work elucidates the regulatory mechanism of iron speciation on fiber formation and performance, establishes a predictive drawing processes and properties framework based on iron forms, and provides a theoretical basis for the selection of basalt raw materials, optimization of process parameters, and the development of high-performance, functionally tailored, and sustainably produced fiber reinforcements for modern construction composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 45915-45936"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tailoring microstructure and tribological behavior of NiCr30WC coatings via MoS2@Ni content","authors":"Zhu Jian,&nbsp;Jiang Yinfang,&nbsp;Kong Dejun","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>NiCr30WC-xMoS₂@Ni (x = 15, 25 and 35, wt., %) coatings were fabricated on 45 steel by laser cladding (LC). The effects of MoS₂@Ni content on the microstructure, phases and tribological behaviors at room temperature (25 °C) and elevated temperature (400 °C) were systematically investigated, and the wear mechanisms were also discussed in detail. The results show that the appropriate MoS₂@Ni content refines the microstructure and improves the uniformity of reinforcing and lubricating phases, which promotes the formations of Cr_xS_y, M₂₃C₆, Mo₂C and NiS and improves the overall lubricating effect. The NiCr30WC-25%MoS₂@Ni coating at 25 and 400 °C exhibits the best wear resistance, which is attributed to the fined microstructure and more favorable balance between the load support from hard phases and shear reduction from lubricating constituent. Its coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate of NiCr30WC-25%MoS₂@Ni coating at 25 °C are 0.42 and 3.37 × 10⁻⁵ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹, respectively; while those at 400 °C are reduced to 0.36 and 7.18 × 10⁻⁵ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, the excessive MoS₂@Ni addition (35%) increases the fraction of soft lubricating phases and promotes the microstructural coarsening, which intensifies the plastic deformation and adhesive damage. The wear mechanism of NiCr30WC-15%MoS₂@Ni is dominated by abrasive wear, adhesive wear and third-body wear, and the NiCr30WC-25%MoS₂@Ni coating exhibits the mild abrasive wear and oxidative wear; whereas the NiCr30WC-35%MoS₂@Ni coating is governed by the combined action of adhesive wear, oxidative wear and abrasive wear.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 45797-45814"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid fabrication of HfB2-MoSi2-SiC ultra-high-temperature ceramic coatings on SiC-C/C composites for enhanced laser ablation resistance","authors":"Zhuoting Lei,&nbsp;Xiaohong Shi,&nbsp;Fan Jiao,&nbsp;Quanliang Wu,&nbsp;Yuxin Zhang,&nbsp;Hejun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To improve the fabrication efficiency and ablation resistance of coatings for carbon/carbon (C/C) composites, HfB₂-MoSi₂-SiC (HMS) coatings were prepared on SiC-coated C/C substrates by laser-directed energy deposition (L-DED). For comparison, a reference HfB₂-MoSi₂-SiC coating was also fabricated by liquid silicon infiltration (LSI). The interfacial characteristics, flexural behavior, and laser ablation resistance of the coatings were systematically investigated. The results show that the L-DED coatings (LD-HMS) exhibited a smoother and denser microstructure, stronger interfacial bonding, and better mechanical retention than the LSI coatings (LS-HMS). The preparation efficiency of LD-HMS is three times higher than that of LS-HMS. The flexural strength of LD-HMS reaches 152.23 ± 7.54 MPa, representing a 32.02% increase compared with that of LS-HMS. Under laser irradiation at 39.79 MW/m² for 30 s, the mass and linear ablation rates of LD-HMS are only 0.047 mg/s and 0.100 μm/s, respectively. The superior ablation resistance of LD-HMS is mainly attributed to its denser initial microstructure, heat dissipation and vapor shielding from Si-rich phases, sealing by the SiO₂-rich glass layer, and crack suppression by HfO₂/HfSiO₄ particles. These results demonstrate that L-DED is an effective route for the rapid fabrication of ultra-high-temperature protective ceramic coatings on C/C composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 45991-46000"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fabrication of (Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Tm0.2Yb0.2)2O3​ high-entropy oxide via microwave-assisted synthesis and spark plasma sintering: Comparative microstructural characterization","authors":"Ehsan Ghasali,&nbsp;Hamidreza Ghadami Karder,&nbsp;Congya Zhu,&nbsp;Tao Tao Zhao,&nbsp;Ayesha Sadiqa,&nbsp;Li Jie,&nbsp;Yasin Orooji","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, a novel high-entropy oxide (HEO) with the nominal composition (Dy₀.₂Ho₀.₂Er₀.₂Tm₀.₂Yb₀.₂)₂O₃ was successfully synthesized via two distinct routes: microwave sintering (MIC) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The primary objective was to conduct a comparative investigation into the influence of each fabrication method on the phase evolution, microstructural characteristics, and chemical homogeneity of the resulting compound. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, complemented by Rietveld refinement, confirmed the formation of a single-phase cubic bixbyite structure with the Ia-3 space group for both samples, devoid of any secondary phases. The lattice parameters were calculated to be 10.57 Å for the SPS sample and 10.54 Å for the microwave-sintered sample. Williamson-Hall analysis revealed that the SPS process yielded a significantly finer crystallite size (47.8 nm) and higher micro-strain ((1.8 ± 0.5) <span><math><mrow><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span>) compared to the microwave method (92.4 nm and (4 ± 1.5) <span><math><mrow><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span>, respectively), attributable to the rapid heating kinetics of SPS that inhibit grain growth. Microstructural evaluation via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) demonstrated dense, well-sintered microstructures with uniform, equiaxed grains. Elemental mapping using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the homogeneous distribution of all five rare-earth elements at both the micro- and nano-scales, validating the entropy-stabilized nature of the single phase. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis verified the trivalent oxidation state (RE³⁺) for all cations and a stable oxygen environment within the lattice, with no significant chemical state alterations induced by the different sintering routes. The results establish a clear relationship between the synthesis pathway and the microstructural evolution, demonstrating that both methods produce pure HEOs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 44561-44574"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}