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This work reports a newly developed two-step hydrothermal method for the synthesis of monodispersed colloidal carbon spheres (CCS) under mild conditions. Using this approach, monodispersed CCS with diameters ranging from 160 to 400 nm were synthesized with a standard deviation around 8%. The monomer concentration ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 M is in favor of generation of narrower size distribution of CCS. The particle characteristics (e.g., shape, size, and distribution) and chemical stability were then characterized by using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR spectrum analysis, and thermalgravity analysis (TGA). The possible nucleation and growth mechanism of colloidal carbon spheres were also discussed. The findings would be useful for the synthesis of more monodispersed nanoparticles and for the functional assembly.

A new method of scavenging highly resistive siliceous phase using two-stage sintering, named as "precursor scavenging," is suggested for improving the grain-boundary conductivity of 8 mol % yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The scavenging efficiency and mechanism were studied and compared with those of 8YSZ-Al 2 O 3 composites prepared by various methods using impedance spectroscopy and imaging secondary-ion mass spectroscopy. A heat-treatment at 1200ЊC for longer than 20 h before sintering increased grain-boundary conductivity remarkably. The forming of inclusions containing Si was considered to be the origin of scavenging. The grain-interior resistivity was not changed by precursor scavenging, while it increased more than 15% by adding 1 mol % Al 2 O 3 when sintered at 1600ЊC. Precursor scavenging, therefore, is a potential and promising way for improving the grain boundary conductivity without deteriorating the grain-interior one.