Combustion synthesis and engineering of nanoparticles for electronic, structural and superconductor applications. Annual progress report, August 20, 1993--May 30, 1994

Fully dense, nanocrystalline ceramic articles were prepared by the new nanofabrication process developed in this research program. The process consists of two steps: synthesis of ceramic nanoparticles and fabrication of dense, nanocrystalline ceramic parts. The synthesis step produced 10-nanometer-diameter crystallites and is capable of being scaled up to kilogam/hour production rates. The fabrication step produced dense articles at significantly reduced sintering temperatures and times-representing a factor of 10-100 reduction in process energy requirements. The process was demonstrated by producing ultrafine-gained yttria-doped ZrO{sub 2}, an important material with a variety of energy-related applications (e.g., solid electrolytes, oxygen sensors, electrode materials, thermal barrier coatings, etc.); BaTiO{sub 3} (for capacitor applications); and YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x}(a high-temperature superconductor with uses, e.g., in magnetic flux trapping and high-speed capacitor applications). Results from this reporting period (September 1993--May 1994) clearly illustrate the capabilities of this energy-efficient and directly commercializable process for producing dense, nanocrystalline, multicomponent oxide ceramics