The aim of this paper was to investigate the structure and thermal properties of zirconia ceramics co-doped with rare earth (RE) elements in equimolar concentrations. We prepared (1 − x)ZrO₂ − x(yLa₂O₃ + yNd₂O₃ + ySm₂O₃ + yGd₂O₃ + yYb₂O₃) (x = 0.2; y = 0.2) powders by a hydrothermal method in mild conditions (200 °C, 2 h, 60–100 atm.) The powder was analyzed by XRD, SEM-EDAX, BET, and FT-IR after synthesis and heat treatments at 1200 °C and 1500 °C. The samples exhibit good thermal stability, with a single cubic phase presented after heat treatment at 1500 °C. The compound exhibits a low thermal conductivity (0.61 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹), a low heat capacity (0.42 J·g⁻¹K⁻¹), and a low thermal diffusivity (0.34 mm²·s⁻¹). The values are lower than reported for conventional RE-doped zirconia.

The current study evaluates the characteristics of electrospun PVDF-based membranes doped with zeolite-A in terms of their structural, morphological, thermal, mechanical, hydrophobic, optoelectrical, and adsorption properties. The effects of the DMF–acetone ratio on solvent and zeolite-doping concentration have been evaluated using SEM-EDX, BET, Raman, XRD, DSC-TGA, UV-VIS spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and mechanical testing. The membranes prepared with solvents low in acetone and increased zeolite content exhibited a higher crystallinity degree exceeding 50%. Zeolite-enriched membranes have a slightly higher content in the α crystalline phase of PVDF when compared to zeolite-free membranes. Electrospinning processing decreased the sample’s subcooling, improving its thermal stability. Zeolite-doping reduced the band gap energy to 1.3 eV from a maximum of 2.7 eV in PVDF membranes. Membranes doped with 3 or 4 wt.% zeolite exhibit improved load-elongation values at break, reaching up to 4.2 N and 47 mm, respectively, and increased flexibility due to their porous structures and the ratio of crystalline to amorphous phases. The membranes adsorbed an MB equilibrium quantity up to 18.5 mg/g and obeyed the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model within the first 24 h. Thus, the synergistic effect of zeolite content and solvent ratio can effectively adjust the sample’s structure, texture, and properties.

The study investigates the structural and thermal properties of zirconia ceramics doped with Sm₂O₃. The powders were prepared via a mild hydrothermal synthesis route at a temperature of 200 °C, for 2 h with a pressure of 60–100 atm, starting from ZrO₂-Sm₂O₃ compositions. Structural and physicochemical characterization was performed using XRD, SEM-EDAX, BET and FT-IR analyses after synthesis and subsequent heat treatments up to 1500 °C. The results indicate good thermal stability of the materials, while a single cubic phase is achieved after calcination at 1500 °C. The ceramics show low thermal conductivity (0.41 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹), reduced heat capacity (0.26 J·g⁻¹·K⁻¹), and low thermal diffusivity (0.34 mm²·s⁻¹), with all measured parameters lower than those commonly reported for conventional rare-earth-stabilized zirconia.

This study investigates the application of robocasting technology for fabricating high-density yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) electrolytes used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The primary goal is to overcome the limitations of traditional manufacturing techniques, such as low density and poor microstructural control. Using a combination of hydrothermal synthesis, rheological testing, and robocasting, we achieved dense 8YSZ structures (over 95% density) with minimal porosity. The fabricated electrolytes underwent sintering and debinding processes, with thermal treatment profiles optimized for structural integrity. A microstructural analysis through SEM and XRD confirmed the formation of stable crystalline phase. This research opens new avenues for the use of additive manufacturing in electrochemical applications, particularly for producing complex ceramic components with superior characteristics.

This study investigates the additive manufacturing of 3D porous scaffolds based on walstromite-type silicate ceramics for bone tissue engineering applications. Walstromite powders were synthesized using the sol-gel method and printed using extrusion-based 3D printing. Both sintered and unsintered scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses to evaluate the effects of sintering on microstructure, porosity, and mechanical properties. Results indicate that the unsintered scaffolds exhibited significantly higher compressive strength due to the presence of organic binders, whereas the sintered scaffolds demonstrated enhanced porosity, facilitating cell infiltration and nutrient flow. Therefore, the sintering process reduced compressive strength, probably due to the loss of organic compounds and increased porosity. These findings underline the need for optimizing sintering parameters to balance mechanical integrity and porosity, ensuring that the scaffolds meet the mechanical and biological requirements for bone regeneration. Alternative sintering methods, such as microwave sintering, are also suggested for future research to minimize the mechanical degradation observed post-sintering.

Ba(Ce,Zr,Y)O₃-based ceramics are promising materials for electrochemical applications, but their processing into complex geometries remains challenging because suitable rheological behavior, shape retention, thermal stability and densification must be achieved simultaneously. In this work, three-dimensional structures based on the hydrothermally synthesized Ba(Ce0.5Zr0.3Y0.2)O₃ composition were fabricated by robocasting using Pluronic F-127-based formulations. Several paste compositions were evaluated, and the optimized formulation consisted of approximately 80.6 wt% ceramic powder and 19.4 wt% Pluronic F-127 solution (30% concentration). Amplitude sweep measurements indicated a predominantly elastic response at low strains followed by a gradual transition to viscous behavior at a shear stress of approximately 240 Pa. Planar and cylindrical structures were successfully printed and heat-treated using a multi-stage binder removal program, followed by sintering at 1350 °C for 3 h. X-ray diffraction revealed two crystalline phases, indicating phase redistribution during high-temperature treatment rather than the formation of a single-phase BCZY ceramic. SEM observations confirmed advanced particle consolidation after sintering, although some residual porosity persisted. Relative densities of approximately 96% and 87% were achieved for the planar and cylindrical samples, respectively. FTIR analysis confirmed the efficient removal of the Pluronic binder following heat treatment. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of processing Ba(Ce,Zr,Y)O₃-based ceramic structures via the robocasting method and highlight the importance of controlling paste rheology, heat treatment, phase stability, and densification in extrusion-based additive manufacturing.