YSZ (Yttria-stabilized zirconia) is a ceramic material that is used for electronic and structural materials due to its excellent mechanical properties and specific electrical characteristics according to the Yttrium addition. Hydrothermal synthesis has several advantages such as fine particle size, uniform crystalline phase, fast reaction time, low process temperature and good dispersion condition. In order to synthesize YSZ nanoparticles with high crystallinity, hydrothermal synthesis was performed at various concentrations of NaOH. The hydrothermal process was held at a low temperature (100 °C), with a short process time (2,4,8 hours); the acidity or alkalinity of solution was controlled in a range of pH 2~12 by addition of NaOH. The optimum condition was found to be pH 12, at which high solubility levels of Y(OH) and Zr(OH) were reported. The synthesized nano powder showed high crystallinity and homogenous composition, and uniform particle size of about 10 nm.

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings are fabricated via suspension plasma spray (SPS) for thermal barrier applications. Three different suspension sets are prepared by using a planetary mill as well as ball mill in order to examine the effect of starting suspension on the phase evolution and the microstructure of SPS prepared coatings. In the case of planetary-milled commercial YSZ powder, a deposited thick coating turns out to have a dense, vertically-cracked microstructure. In addition, a dense YSZ coating with fully developed phase can be obtained via suspension plasma spray with suspension from planetary-milled mixture of Y2O3 and ZrO2.