X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies on the carbothermal reduction reaction products of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been used to study the fine structure details of carbothermally reduced 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and understand the effect of sintering on various bond lengths in the starting powder and its sintered counterpart. The influence of ZrC formation on the YSZ matrix was determined with the help of X-ray diffraction and XAS. Bond lengths were deduced from the extended X-ray absorption spectroscopy pattern of the carbothermally reduced sample and compared with those of the pure standards.