Dual-phase rare-earth-zirconate high-entropy ceramics with glass-like thermal conductivity

Abstract A series of rare earth zirconates (RE2Zr2O7) high-entropy ceramics with single- and dual-phase structure were prepared. Compared with La2Zr2O7 and Yb2Zr2O7, the smaller “rattling” ions (Yb3+, Er3+, Y3+) have been incorporated into pyrochlore lattice in (La0.2Nd0.2Y0.2Er0.2Yb0.2)2Zr2O7 (LNYEY) while larger ions (La3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+) incorporated into fluorite lattice in (La0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Gd0.2Yb0.2)2Zr2O7 (LNSGY). Due to high-entropy lattice distortion and resonant scattering derived from smaller ions Yb3+, Er3+, and Y3+, LNYEY shows a lower glass-like thermal conductivity (1.62-1.59 W m-1 K-1, 100-600℃) than LNSGY (1.74-1.75 W m-1 K-1, 100-600℃). Moreover, LNYEY and LNSGY exhibit enhanced Vickers’ hardness (LNYEY, Hv = 11.47 ± 0.41 GPa; LNSGY, Hv = 10.96 ± 0.26 GPa) and thermal expansion coefficients (LNYEY, 10.45 × 10-6 K-1, 1000℃; LNSGY, 11.02 × 10-6 K-1, 1000℃). These results indicate that dual-phase rare-earth-zirconate high-entropy ceramics could be desirable for thermal barrier coatings.