From Oxide Particles to Nanoceramics: Processes and Applications

Applications of dense or porous nanoceramics require well-mastered elaboration processes and the refinement of the choice of precursors opens new ways towards improved functional materials. Nanoparticles are ideal bricks on condition that grain growth is prevented during sintering. The interface between the worlds of solution chemistry and nanoceramics is the guideline of this chapter. There are many processes to obtain oxide nanoparticles, but considering that a certain size distribution and agglomeration can generally be tolerated, it is usual to favor cheap processes able to produce large quantities of nanopowders. If spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a sound approach, in some cases, it is also possible to use more classical sintering and get dense nanoceramics, starting from nanoparticles. Porous ordered ceramics with controlled pore architecture might find applications in catalytic processes, especially in the case of hierarchical structure or photonic crystals.