Multicomponent solid solution with pyrochlore structure

Abstract

Multicomponent oxide with pyrochlore structure (A2B2O7), containing 7 different A-site cations and 3 B-site cations in equiatomic amounts, was synthesized. Powders with nominal composition (La1/7Sm1/7Nd1/7Pr1/7Y1/7Gd1/7Yb1/7)2(Sn1/3Hf1/3Zr1/3)2O7 were fabricated through a reaction of metal nitrates (A-site) and metal chlorides (B-site) with sodium hydroxide during the solid state displacement reaction. Room temperature synthesis initially resulted in the obtainment of amorphous powders, which crystallized after subsequent calcination to form single crystalline compounds. Crystalline high-entropy ceramic powders formation took place at temperatures as low as 750 °C. During calcination, defective fluorite (F-A2B2O7) and crystal pyrochlore (Py-A2B2O7) structures coexist. A large number of cations induce the obtainment of stable high-entropy pyrochlores. Results showed that sintering at 1650 °C lead to pure crystalline single-phase pyrochlore formation. High-density ceramic, free of additives, was obtained after powders were compacted and subjected to pressureless sintering at 1650 °C. Multicomponent pyrochlore structure was investigated using the theoretical and experimental multi-methodological approach.