Narrow Results

A synthetic process for the formation of Zr_xY_1-xO_y nanostructures is demonstrated by the reaction of yttrium nitrate hexahydrate with zirconium propoxide. The reactions are carried out at temperature 60°C and pressure 0.1 MPa. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy measurements confirm formation of Zr_xY_1-xO_y nanostructures and the presence of carbonate and hydroxide species which are removed after high temperature anneals. It was found that the oxygen pressure during synthesis plays a determinant role on the structural properties of the nanostructure. This effect is further studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements and scanning electron microscope (SEM), which showed the formation of an isotopically organized structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement reveals that these changes in the nanostructural efficiency are associated with structural and compositional changes among the substrate. The dielectric constant as measured by the capacitance–voltage (C–V) technique is estimated to be around 39.05. C–V measurements taken at 1 MHz show the maximum capacitance for the Zr_0.05Y_0.95O_y film. The leakage current densities were below 10^-5 A/cm² for the Zr_0.05Y_0.95O_y film.