High-entropy rare-earth zirconate ceramics with low thermal conductivity for advanced thermal-barrier coatings

The high-entropy rare-earth zirconate((La_(0.2)Nd_(0.2)Sm_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Yb_(0.2))_(2)Zr_(2)O_(7),5RE_(2)Zr_(2)O_(7)HEREZs)ceramics were successfully prepared by a new high-speed positive grinding strategy combined with solid-state reaction method.The microstructure,crystal structure,phase composition,and thermophysical and mechanical properties of the samples were systematically investigated through various methods.Results indicate that the samples have a single-phase defect fluorite-type crystal structure with excellent high-temperature thermal stability.The as-prepared samples also demonstrate low thermal conductivity(0.9–1.72 W·m^(−1)·K^(−1)at 273–1273 K)and high coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE,10.9×10^(−6)K^(−1)at 1273 K),as well as outstanding mechanical properties including large Young’s modulus(E=186–257 GPa)and high fracture toughness(KIC).Furthermore,the formation possibility of the as-prepared samples was verified through the first-principles calculations,which suggested the feasibility to form the 5RE_(2)Zr_(2)O_(7)HE-REZs in the thermodynamic direction.Therefore,in view of the excellent multifunctional properties exhibited by the as-prepared 5RE_(2)Zr_(2)O_(7)HE-REZs,they have great potential applications in next-generation thermal-barrier coatings(TBCs).