Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Polycrystalline Ceramics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 34295

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fachgebiet Keramische Werkstoffe/Chair of Advanced Ceramic Materials, Institut für Werkstoffwissenschaften und -technologien, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 40,
10623 Berlin, Germany
Interests: catalysis; photocatalysis; nanomaterials; wastewater treatment; water splitting
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Fachgebiet Keramische Werkstoffe/Chair of Advanced Ceramic Materials, Institut für Werkstoffwissenschaften und -technologien, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 40, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Interests: nanomaterials; catalysis; heterogenous catalysts; porous oxides; oxidative coupling of methane
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional ceramics are materials that possess a variety of electric, magnetic, or optical properties that allow for a range of applications. Among them, advanced functional oxide ceramics have received significant attention because of their functional properties such as magnetism, ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity, magnetoresistance, multiferroicity, thermoelectricity, ionic and electronic conductivity, or catalytic activity. Such kinds of materials are of especial interest to a vast number of emerging devices including magnetic storage media, spintronics, gas sensors, and energy storage and conversion devices.

The structure-property understanding in these oxide ceramics is essential to improve their optical, electronic, and magnetic properties and is of vital interest for both technology and fundamental science. Controlling the structure and morphology of oxide ceramics to enhance their properties allows for new functionalities and improved behaviour of materials and devices.

We invite researchers to contribute to the Special Issue on “Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics.” The focus of this Special Issue will be on the synthesis, processing, and characterization of functional oxide ceramics, in particular, for applications in the field of energy harvesting, conversion, storage, and gas sensors and catalysts. These materials can be in bulk, thin films, as well as other more sophisticated forms. The potential topics include but are not limited to the following themes: Novel synthesis and processing techniques, characterization of structural and functional properties, and compositional engineering of functional oxide ceramics. Contributions that provide an overview of the status of sub-groups of functional oxide ceramics are also welcome.

Dr. Maged F. Bekheet
Dr. Ulla Simon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Oxide ceramics
  • Structural characterization
  • Functional properties
  • Ferroelectricity
  • Piezoelectricity
  • Thermoelectricity
  • Mixed ionic-electronic conductivity
  • Ceramic catalysts
  • Solid oxide fuel cell
  • Battery electrodes

Published Papers (11 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 5711 KiB  
Article
A Novel Method for the Preparation of Fibrous CeO2–ZrO2–Y2O3 Compacts for Thermochemical Cycles
by Nicole Knoblauch and Peter Mechnich
Crystals 2021, 11(8), 885; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11080885 - 29 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1505
Abstract
Zirconium-Yttrium-co-doped ceria (Ce0.85Zr0.13Y0.02O1.99) compacts consisting of fibers with diameters in the range of 8–10 µm have been successfully prepared by direct infiltration of commercial YSZ fibers with a cerium oxide matrix and subsequent sintering. The [...] Read more.
Zirconium-Yttrium-co-doped ceria (Ce0.85Zr0.13Y0.02O1.99) compacts consisting of fibers with diameters in the range of 8–10 µm have been successfully prepared by direct infiltration of commercial YSZ fibers with a cerium oxide matrix and subsequent sintering. The resulting chemically homogeneous fiber-compacts are sinter-resistant up to 1923 K and retain a high porosity of around 58 vol% and a permeability of 1.6–3.3 × 10−10 m² at a pressure gradient of 100–500 kPa. The fiber-compacts show a high potential for the application in thermochemical redox cycling due its fast redox kinetics. The first evaluation of redox kinetics shows that the relaxation time of oxidation is five times faster than that of dense samples of the same composition. The improved gas exchange due to the high porosity also allows higher reduction rates, which enable higher hydrogen yields in thermochemical water-splitting redox cycles. The presented cost-effective fiber-compact preparation method is considered very promising for manufacturing large-scale functional components for solar-thermal high-temperature reactors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2670 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Zirconia Micro-Nanoflakes with Highly Exposed (001) Facets and Their Crystal Growth
by Haibo Yan, Jian Di, Jiahao Li, Zhuoyu Liu, Junfeng Liu and Xing Ding
Crystals 2021, 11(8), 871; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11080871 - 27 Jul 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1419
Abstract
This study reports a novel preparation method of zirconia micro-nanoflakes with high (001) facets that is generated through a hydrolysis reaction of the fluozirconic acid (H2ZrF6). Zirconia micro-nanoflakes synthesized at varied conditions were analyzed by the SEM, EDS, μ-XRD, [...] Read more.
This study reports a novel preparation method of zirconia micro-nanoflakes with high (001) facets that is generated through a hydrolysis reaction of the fluozirconic acid (H2ZrF6). Zirconia micro-nanoflakes synthesized at varied conditions were analyzed by the SEM, EDS, μ-XRD, and Raman spectroscopy to characterize the morphology and probe into the crystal growth mechanism. The synthesized zirconia crystals in the form of elliptical micro-nanoflakes or irregular nanoflakes generally display the highly exposed (001) facets with a thickness of 1–100 nm and a length of 0.1–2.0 μm. As the temperature and initial solution concentration increased, the particle sizes of the synthesized zirconia micro-nanoflakes became more uniform and the thicknesses of the (001) facets became larger, suggesting that the synthesized zirconia crystals grow along the (001) facets and mostly along the c-axis direction. This is confirmed by the data from the μ-XRD patterns. The results also demonstrate that an oriented attachment-based growth occurring in a fluorine-rich solution environment was involved in the aggregation and coarsening of zirconia micro-nanoflakes. Meanwhile, synthesized zirconia micro-nanoflakes also evolved from a mixture of monoclinic and tetragonal systems to a pure monoclinic system (i.e., baddeleyite) with the temperature increasing, suggesting a key role of temperature regarding zirconia’s growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 4163 KiB  
Article
Low Temperature Transitional Aluminas: Structure Specifics and Related X-ray Diffraction Features
by Dmitriy A. Yatsenko, Vera P. Pakharukova and Sergey V. Tsybulya
Crystals 2021, 11(6), 690; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11060690 - 16 Jun 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3930
Abstract
Despite the fact that metastable aluminum oxides are actively used in industry, there is a discrepancy in the literature regarding their crystal structure. All this leads to difficulties in data interpretation and, as a consequence, classification problems. This work is aimed at solving [...] Read more.
Despite the fact that metastable aluminum oxides are actively used in industry, there is a discrepancy in the literature regarding their crystal structure. All this leads to difficulties in data interpretation and, as a consequence, classification problems. This work is aimed at solving these tasks. The main features of powder X-ray diffraction of typical samples of three Al2O3 polymorphs (γ-, χ-, η-) are analyzed. Specifics and fundamental differences in X-ray scattering and their relationship with the structural organization at the nanostructure level are clearly shown. The work demonstrates the possibilities of analyzing experimental powder X-ray diffraction data using a modern approach based on the Debye Scattering Equation for studying the organization of such complex systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

5 pages, 1093 KiB  
Article
High Thermal Stability of κ-Ga2O3 Grown by MOCVD
by Junhee Lee, Honghyuk Kim, Lakshay Gautam and Manijeh Razeghi
Crystals 2021, 11(4), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11040446 - 20 Apr 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3042
Abstract
We report a high thermal stability of kappa gallium oxide grown on c-plane sapphire substrate by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Kappa gallium oxide is widely known as a metastable polymorph transitioning its phase when subjected to a high temperature. Here, we show [...] Read more.
We report a high thermal stability of kappa gallium oxide grown on c-plane sapphire substrate by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Kappa gallium oxide is widely known as a metastable polymorph transitioning its phase when subjected to a high temperature. Here, we show the kappa gallium oxide whose phase is stable in a high temperature annealing process at 1000 °C. These oxide films were grown at 690 °C under nitrogen carrier gas. The materials showed high electrical resistivity when doped with silicon, whereas the film conductivity was significantly improved when doped with both indium and silicon. This work provides a pathway to overcoming limitations for the advance in utilizing kappa gallium oxide possessing superior electrical characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 4855 KiB  
Article
Transport and Dielectric Properties of Mechanosynthesized La2/3Cu3Ti4O12 Ceramics
by Mohamad M. Ahmad, Hicham Mahfoz Kotb, Celin Joseph, Shalendra Kumar and Adil Alshoaibi
Crystals 2021, 11(3), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11030313 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1637
Abstract
La2/3Cu3Ti4O12 (LCTO) powder has been synthesized by the mechanochemical milling technique. The pelletized powder was conventionally sintered for 10 h at a temperature range of 975–1025 °C, which is a lower temperature process compared to the [...] Read more.
La2/3Cu3Ti4O12 (LCTO) powder has been synthesized by the mechanochemical milling technique. The pelletized powder was conventionally sintered for 10 h at a temperature range of 975–1025 °C, which is a lower temperature process compared to the standard solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a cubic phase for the current LCTO ceramics. The grain size of the sintered ceramics was found to increase from 1.5 ± 0.5 to 2.3 ± 0.5 μm with an increase in sintering temperature from 975 to 1025 °C. The impedance results show that the grain conductivity is more than three orders of magnitude larger than the grain boundary conductivity for LCTO ceramics. All the samples showed a giant dielectric constant (1.7 × 103–3.4 × 103) and dielectric loss (0.09–0.17) at 300 K and 10 kHz. The giant dielectric constant of the current samples was attributed to the effect of internal barrier layer capacitances due to their electrically inhomogeneous structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 5243 KiB  
Communication
Comparative Study of Cold Sintering Process and Autoclave Thermo-Vapor Treatment on a ZnO Sample
by Yurii Ivakin, Andrey Smirnov, Anastasia Kholodkova, Alexander Vasin, Mikhail Kormilicin, Maxim Kornyushin and Vladimir Stolyarov
Crystals 2021, 11(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11010071 - 16 Jan 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2592
Abstract
Analysis of scanning electron microscopy images was used to study the changes in the crystal size distribution of ZnO, which occurred during its processing in an aqueous medium at 220–255 °C and an equilibrium vapor pressure in an autoclave. The results were compared [...] Read more.
Analysis of scanning electron microscopy images was used to study the changes in the crystal size distribution of ZnO, which occurred during its processing in an aqueous medium at 220–255 °C and an equilibrium vapor pressure in an autoclave. The results were compared with those of ZnO placed in a die for treatment under similar conditions supplemented with mechanical pressure application in the cold sintering process. In both cases, ZnO was treated in the presence of an activating additive: either zinc acetate or ammonium chloride. During autoclaving, a powder consisting of fine ZnO monocrystals was obtained, while the cold sintering process led to ceramics formation. Under vapor pressure and mechanical pressure, the aqueous medium affected ZnO transformation by the same mechanism of solid-phase mobility activation due to the additives’ influence. The higher the content of additives in the medium, and the higher the mechanical pressure, the more pronounced activating effect was observed. Mass transfer during the cold sintering process occurred mainly by the coalescence of crystals, while without mechanical pressure, the predominance of surface spreading was revealed. In the initial ZnO powder, the average crystal size was 0.193 μm. It grew up to 0.316–0.386 μm in a fine-crystalline powder formed in the autoclave and to an average grain size of 0.244–0.799 μm in the ceramics, which relative density reached 0.82–0.96. A scheme explaining the influence of an aqueous medium on the solid-phase mobility of ZnO structure was proposed. It was found that the addition of 7.6 mol% ammonium chloride to the reaction medium causes the processes of compaction and grain growth similar to those observed in ZnO Cold Sintering Process with the addition of 0.925 mol% zinc acetate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2549 KiB  
Article
Low-Cost High-Performance SnO2–Cu Electrodes for Use in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells
by Hany S. Abdo, Amit Sarkar, Madhu Gupta, Suvadra Sahoo, Jabair A. Mohammed, Sameh A. Ragab and Asiful H. Seikh
Crystals 2021, 11(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11010055 - 11 Jan 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2266
Abstract
The high cost of Pt-based electrode materials limits the commercialization of fuel cells and their subsequent application in renewable energy production. It is thus necessary to develop economical, high-performance electrodes alongside biofuels to reduce the pollution associated with the production of energy. Tin [...] Read more.
The high cost of Pt-based electrode materials limits the commercialization of fuel cells and their subsequent application in renewable energy production. It is thus necessary to develop economical, high-performance electrodes alongside biofuels to reduce the pollution associated with the production of energy. Tin dioxide–copper foil (SnO2–Cu) electrode materials are herein developed using an electrodeposition process. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and potentiodynamic polarization methods are used to electrochemically characterize the electrode materials, with the results revealing that their excellent catalytic properties result in them delivering a high current. The surface morphologies of the developed electrodes are examined using scanning electron microscopy, with the results showing that upon an increase in the deposition time, a finer deposit of SnO2 is formed on the surface of the Cu foil. Consequently, electrochemical oxidation using an enhanced surface area of the material leads to it exhibiting a high current and excellent corrosion resistance. Powder X-ray diffraction was used to confirm the successful depositing of SnO2 on the surface of Cu. The fuel cell fabricated using the SnO2–Cu electrode is promising for use in clean energy generation, as it can be prepared at low cost compared to conventionally used electrodes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 4111 KiB  
Article
Influence of Fine Crystal Percentage on the Electrical Properties of ZnO Ceramic-Based Varistors
by Abdullah Aljaafari and Ahmed Sedky
Crystals 2020, 10(8), 681; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10080681 - 06 Aug 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2143
Abstract
Herein, the effect of nanocrystal percentage in bulk-ZnO varistors was studied. The structure of ZnO nanocrystals was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The XRD studies showed that the nanocrystals were indexed with the hexagonal wurtzite structure of [...] Read more.
Herein, the effect of nanocrystal percentage in bulk-ZnO varistors was studied. The structure of ZnO nanocrystals was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The XRD studies showed that the nanocrystals were indexed with the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanostructures. The average crystallite size deduced from XRD analysis ranged between 135 and 273 nm, eight-fold lower than that of the nanoparticles observed in FE-SEM micrographs (1151–2214 nm). The percentage of nanocrystals added into the ZnO varistor was increased from 0 to 100%. Electrical measurements (I–V profiles) showed that the non-linear region, breakdown field, and activation energy were found to decrease with the addition of ZnO fine crystals up to 10% and then increased upon a further increase in fine crystals. However, the electrical conductivity measured at room temperature was improved, and the highest value of 2.11 × 10−5 was observed for 10% fine crystals and then decreased upon a further increase in the fine crystal concentration in bulk ZnO. The breakdown field decreased with the increase in the percentage of ZnO nanostructures in the varistor up to 10% and then increased upon the further addition of ZnO nanostructures. The nonlinear coefficient (α) was decreased from 18.6 for bulk ZnO and remained close to unity for the samples that contained fine crystals. The electrical conductivity was generally improved with the increase in the concentration of the ZnO fine crystals. The activation energy was found to be 128, 374, and 815 meV for the bulk samples and 164, 369, and 811 meV for the samples that contained 100% fine crystals for the three temperature regions of 300–420, 420–580, and 580–620 K, respectively. These results will provide a pathway toward the determination of a correlation between the electrical and microstructural properties of ZnO-based varistors for future device applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

34 pages, 5287 KiB  
Review
An Overview of Gadolinium-Based Oxide and Oxysulfide Particles: Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Applications
by Benita Ortega-Berlanga, Lourdes Betancourt-Mendiola, César del Angel-Olarte, Luis Hernández-Adame, Sergio Rosales-Mendoza and Gabriela Palestino
Crystals 2021, 11(9), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11091094 - 08 Sep 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7116
Abstract
In the last decade, the publications presenting novel physical and chemical aspects of gadolinium-based oxide (Gd2O3) and oxysulfide (Gd2O2S) particles in the micro- or nano-scale have increased, mainly stimulated by the exciting applications of these [...] Read more.
In the last decade, the publications presenting novel physical and chemical aspects of gadolinium-based oxide (Gd2O3) and oxysulfide (Gd2O2S) particles in the micro- or nano-scale have increased, mainly stimulated by the exciting applications of these materials in the biomedical field. Their optical properties, related to down and upconversion phenomena and the ability to functionalize their surface, make them attractive for developing new probes for selective targeting and emergent bioimaging techniques, either for biomolecule labeling or theranostics. Moreover, recent reports have shown interesting optical behavior of these systems influenced by the synthesis methods, dopant amount and type, particle shape and size, and surface functionality. Hence, this review presents a compilation of the latest works focused on evaluating the optical properties of Gd2O3 and Gd2O2S particles as a function of their physicochemical and morphological properties; and also on their novel applications as MRI contrast agents and drug delivery nanovehicles, discussed along with their administration routes, biodistribution, cytotoxicity, and clearance mechanisms. Perspectives for this field are also identified and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

20 pages, 526 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Methods for Recovery of Cenospheres from Fly Ash and Their Emerging Applications in Ceramics, Composites, Polymers and Environmental Cleanup
by Virendra Kumar Yadav, Krishna Kumar Yadav, Vineet Tirth, Ashok Jangid, G. Gnanamoorthy, Nisha Choudhary, Saiful Islam, Neha Gupta, Cao Truong Son and Byong-Hun Jeon
Crystals 2021, 11(9), 1067; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11091067 - 03 Sep 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3546
Abstract
Coal fly ash (CFA) is a major global pollutant produced by thermal power plants during the generation of electricity. A significant amount of coal fly ash is dumped every year in the near vicinity of the thermal power plants, resulting in the spoilage [...] Read more.
Coal fly ash (CFA) is a major global pollutant produced by thermal power plants during the generation of electricity. A significant amount of coal fly ash is dumped every year in the near vicinity of the thermal power plants, resulting in the spoilage of agricultural land. CFA has numerous value-added structural elements, such as cenospheres, plerospheres, ferrospheres, and carbon particles. Cenospheres are spherical-shaped solid-filled particles, formed during the combustion of coal in thermal power plants. They are lightweight, have high mechanical strength, and are rich in Al-Si particles. Due to cenospheres’ low weight and high mechanical strength, they are widely used as ceramic/nanoceramics material, fireproofing material, and in nanocomposites. They are also used directly, or after functionalization, as an adsorbent for environmental cleanup—especially for the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from wastewater. By utilizing this waste material as an adsorbent, the whole process becomes economical and eco-friendly. In this review, we have highlighted the latest advances in the cenospheres recovery from fly ash and their application in ceramics and wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 14673 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Methods for the Recovery of Carbon Nanominerals and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons from Coal Fly Ash and Their Emerging Applications
by Javed Alam, Virendra Kumar Yadav, Krishna Kumar Yadav, Marina MS Cabral-Pinto, Neha Tavker, Nisha Choudhary, Arun Kumar Shukla, Fekri Abdulraqeb Ahmed Ali, Mansour Alhoshan and Ali Awadh Hamid
Crystals 2021, 11(2), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11020088 - 21 Jan 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3870
Abstract
Coal fly ash is found to be one of the key pollutants worldwide due to its toxic heavy metal content. However, due to advancements in technology, coal fly ash has gained importance in various emerging fields. They are rich sources of carbonaceous particles [...] Read more.
Coal fly ash is found to be one of the key pollutants worldwide due to its toxic heavy metal content. However, due to advancements in technology, coal fly ash has gained importance in various emerging fields. They are rich sources of carbonaceous particles which remain unburnt during burning of various coals in thermal power plants (TPPs). Various carbonaceous nanoparticles in the form of fullerenes, soot, and carbon nanotubes could be recovered from coal fly ash by applying trending techniques. Moreover, coal fly ash is comprised of rich sources of organic carbons such as polycyclic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons that are used in various industries for the development of carbon-derived value-added materials and nanocomposites. Here, we focus on all the types of carbon nanominerals from coal fly ash with the latest techniques applied. Moreover, we also emphasize the recovery of organic carbons in polyaromatic (PAHs) and polycyclic hydrocarbons (PCHs) from coal fly ash (CFA). Finally, we try to elucidate the latest applications of such carbon particle in the industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Oxide Ceramics)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop