Initial Stage of Formation of Ordered Nanocrystalline Structures in Films of Zirconia-Based Solid Electrolyte

Methods of transmission electron microscopy were used for analyzing the initial stage of formation of ordered nanocrystalline solid-electrolyte structures ZrO2–Y2O3 and ZrO2–Sc2O3 produced by ion-plasma spluttering. At the initial stage of their formation the ordered nanocrystalline solid-electrolyte structures were found to be linear or bilinear ones. The electron diffraction analysis of the linear and bilinear nanocrystalline structures suggested a monocrystalline character of the nanocrystallites forming these structures. A model of a self-orientation mechanism responsible for formation of ordered nanocrystalline solid-electrolyte structures has been discussed.