Patent ID: 8877119

Claim:
A method of making a multi-phase nanocomposite comprising: a. preparing an aqueous solution of citric acid and ethylene glycol; b. adding to the solution of step a. a combination of water-soluble salts of yttrium and magnesium to obtain an aqueous solution of citric acid, ethylene glycol and yttrium and magnesium salts; c. heating the solution of step b. at a temperature of about 200° C. for between about 2-4 hours to produce a foam comprised of (i) the ester of citric acid and ethylene glycol and (ii) the yttrium and magnesium salts; d. milling the foam to obtain a powder; e. heating the powder at a temperature between about 300° C.-500° C. for a time between about 12-36 hours to obtain a calcined powder comprised of metal oxides of the metal salts; and f. heating the calcined powder in a post-calcination heat treatment at a temperature between about 700° C.-1200° C. for a time between about 0.5-2.0 hours to obtain a multi-phase nanocomposite comprised of the metal oxides.