Combustion synthesis of 5 and 10 mol% YO1.5 doped ThO2 powders

Nanocrystalline 5 and 10 mol% YO1.5 doped ThO2 powders were prepared by the combustion technique using citric acid as a fuel and nitrates as oxidants. The auto-ignition of the fuel-deficient precursors (prepared by thermal dehydration of the aqueous solutions containing metal nitrates and citric acid in required molar ratio) directly resulted in the well crystalline powders of the desired solid solutions along with traces of carbonaceous material. The as-prepared and calcined powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-temperature XRD and by their sinterability. The YO1.5 doped ThO2 powders when cold-pressed and sintered at 1300 °C for 2 h resulted in ⩾95% of their theoretical densities with nanograin microstructure.