Phase structure and thermal evolution in coatings and powders obtained by the sol-gel process: Part I. ZrO₂−11.3 mol% Y₂O₃

Yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia powders and coatings produced by the sol-gel method have been investigated by Perturbed Angular Correlation Spectroscopy (PAC). Results indicate that the metastable cubic phase is retained during heating and cooling cycles. The hyperfine interaction that describes this cubic phase, once crystallized, exhibits two components in a constant ratio of 4 : 1. The components represent different vacancy configurations. For the fast movement of oxygen vacancies starting at 750 °C, which is reflected by the damping of the hyperfine pattern, an activation energy of 0.96 eV was determined.