In　this　study,　divalent　calcium　cation　with　large　radius　and　trivalent　yttrium　cation　with　small　radius　were　introduced　to　develop　co-stabilized　zirconia　ceramics　with　both　superior　mechanical　properties　and　aging　resistance.　Through　a　reverse　coprecipitation-hydrothermal　method,　a　series　of　ultrafine　xCaO-yY2O3-ZrO2　(x　=　2.0,　3.0,　y　=　0.5,　1.0,　1.5,　2.0)　raw　powders　with　high　quality　were　fabricated　for　the　production　of　nanostructured　ceramics　via　low-temperature　pressurelessly　sintering.　The　sintering　process　was　optimized　by　investigating　the　effects　of　sintering　temperature　on　densification,　grain　growth　and　phase　evolution.　The　minimally　doped　2.0CaO-0.5Y2O3-ZrO2　ceramic　retained　pure　tetragonal　phase　at　room　temperature,　achieving　a　balance　of　excellent　toughness　and　high　aging　resistance.　The　impacts　of　chemical　composition　on　microstructure,　hardness,　toughness　and　aging　resistance　were　examined　for　these　xCaO-yY2O3-ZrO2　(x　=　2.0,　3.0,　y　=　0.5,　1.0,　1.5,　2.0)　ceramics.　The　segregation　of　calcium　and　yttrium　cations　at　grain　boundaries　effectively　tailored　the　microstructure.　It　was　observed　that　substituting　small　trivalent　yttrium　cations　for　large　divalent　calcium　cations　effectively　enhanced　the　aging　resistance　without　sacrificing　mechanical　properties,　due　to　the　strengthened　grain　boundaries　and　asymmetrical　distribution　of　cations　among　grains.　This　work　not　only　produces　low-doped　zirconia　ceramics　with　both　excellent　mechanical　properties　and　aging　resistance,　but　also　presents　straightforward　method　for　preparation　of　high-quality　raw　powders　and　delicate　microstructural　engineering　during　sintering　for　developing　advanced　structural　ceramics.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd　and　Techna　Group　S.r.l.