Synthesis of dopant-free tetragonal zirconia nano-powders with aqueous precursor and their optical properties
Abstract
A series of novel dopant-free tetragonal zirconia nano-powders have been synthesized simply by the desiccation of inorganic aqueous precursor followed by annealing from 330 to 900 °C. Both phase and microstructure analyses provided a solid proof of pure tetragonal phase formation at annealing temperature as low as 430 °C. Due to ultra-small size (∼5 nm) and high surface energy of the zirconia nano-powders derived from aqueous precursor, the tetragonal structure could be maintained as the dominant phase even after annealing at temperature up to 900 °C. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of the zirconia powders calcined at 430 °C showed a strong absorption band around 218 nm and the direct band gap of 5.48 eV, which was attributed to their good crystallization and ultra-small particle size.
- Publication:
-
Materials Research Express
- Pub Date:
- January 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1088/2053-1591/aae7c4
- Bibcode:
- 2019MRE.....6a5041Y
- Keywords:
-
- zirconia nano-powders;
- aqueous precursor;
- tetragonal phase;
- optical properties