Nd_2Zr_2O_7isbeingexploredasanalternatethermalbarriercoating(TBC)materialforoperatingabove1300°C,andgreatefforthasbeenmadetoenlargeitsthermalexpansioncoefficient(TEC)andimproveitstoughness.Inthisstudy,Sc_2O_3wasdopedtoNd_2Zr_2O_7.Thephasestructure,TECsandtoughnessof((Nd_(1-x)Scx))_2Zr_2_O7(x=0,0.025,0.05,0.075,0.1)compoundswereinvestigated.((Nd_(1-x)Scx))_2Zr_2_O7(x=0,0.025,0.05,0.075)exhibitedpyrochlorestructure,while((Nd_(0.9)Sc_(0.1)))_2Zr_2O_7consistedofpyrochloreandfluoritephases.WiththeincreaseoftheSc_2O_3content,theorderingdegreeofthepyrochloreinthecompoundsdecreased.In((Nd_(1-x)Scx))_2Zr_2O_7series,((Nd_(0.925)Sc_(0.075)))_2Zr_2O_7exhibitedthelargestTEC,whilethetoughnessofthecompoundsincreasedwithincreasingtheSc_2O_3content.Therelatedmechanismswerediscussedbasedonthecrystalstructureanalysis.ConsideringtheTECandtoughness,10mol%Sc_2O_3wassuggestedastheoptimaldopingcontentforNd_2Zr_2O_7ceramic.
