PREPARATION OF THIN-FILMS IN THE SYSTEM Z RO2-CAO BY THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF 2-ETHYLHEXANOATE

ZrO2-CaO thin films have been prepared by thermal decomposition of 2-e thylhexanoate. Butanol solutions of Zr and Ca 2-ethylhexanoate contain ing 0 to 80 mol% CaO were coated on Al2O3 ceramic substrates, dried at room temperature and 110 degrees C, and then thermally decomposed at 550 degrees C, The above operation was repeated eleven times, and then the specimens were finally heated at various temperatures from 550 to 1400 degrees C, Results of X-ray diffraction and electric conductivit y measurements showed that the thin films prepared from the coating so lutions with compositions of 13 and 17 mol% CaO by final heating at 12 00 degrees C had the highest X-ray diffraction intensity and electric conductivity, respectively. Activation energies for conduction were 0. 78 to 1.36 eV, and a maximum value of 1.36 eV was obtained when CaO co ntent in the coating solution was 20 mol%.