Preparation of monodisperse YSZ ceramic microspheres by high-throughput and instant-mixing droplet microfluidic system. Issue 13 (1st July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rui, Xu; Jing, Song; Shijiao, Zhao; Lei, Nie; Changsheng, Deng; Shaochang, Hao; Xingyu, Zhao; Bing, Liu; Jingtao, Ma
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 47:Issue 13(2021)
• Page Start: 18230
• Page End: 18237
• Publication Date: 2021-07-01
• Subjects: Monodisperse YSZ ceramic Microspheres -- Internal gelation process -- Microfluidic -- Micromixing -- High-throughput; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.03.142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: The internal gelation process without cooling at room temperature is a significant challenge for the preparation of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramic microspheres. In this work, a high-throughput and instant-mixing droplet microfluidic system that can prepare monodisperse YSZ ceramic microspheres was constructed. It mixed two stable solutions at room temperature in an active micromixer at a flow rate of mL/min, and then the mixed unstable precursor solution was quickly dispersed into sol droplets through a coaxial microfluidic device, and the droplets solidified into gel microspheres. The washed and dried gel microspheres could be sintered to obtain ceramic microspheres. Compared with no-micromixing and T-junction micromixers, the system had the best mixing performance and Y and Zr elements in the prepared ceramic microspheres were evenly distributed. Therefore, the system overcame the problem of precursor solution solidification and clogging of the device, and provided a new approach for the internal gelation process without cooling at room temperature. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A new high-throughput and instant-mixing droplet microfluidic system for the preparation of monodisperse ceramic microspheres is proposed. The system can work continuously at a flow rate of mL/min for more than 15 h without clogging for preparation of yttrium stabilized zirconia microspheres. Compared with no-micromixing and T-junction micromixer, the system has the best mixing performance. The system provides a new idea for preparing ceramic microspheres by the internal gelation process at room temperature.