(Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Universities for Inorganic Membranes, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen 333001)

Abstract:Highly porous yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) hollow fiber membranes have been developed by a combined phase inversion and sintering technique, using water and ethanol as the internal and external coagulant, respectively, during the spinning process. The sintered YSZ hollow fiber membranes were characterized in terms of microstructure, porosity and pore size distribution, pure water flux and nitrogen permeability. Results show that the prepared porous YSZ membranes show a special asymmetric structure with thin outer sponge -like skin layer and sub -layer composed of long and large finger-like pores.

Keywords:yttria-stabilized zirconia, hollow fiber, ceramic membrane, phase inversion, permeability