Chemical synthesis of nanocrystals of tantalum ion-doped tetragonal zirconia

Abstract

A polymer matrix-based precursor solution method is explored for the preparation of tantalum ion-doped tetragonal (t) zirconia polycrystals. The matrix is composed of sucrose and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which are the dispersing agents for the metal cations and finally act as a template for the nanoparticle through the formation of a mesoporous structure. The t-phase is formed in powders of zirconia with 5, 10, 15 and 20 at.% tantalum ion, and the phase is stable up to the calcining temperature of 1100 °C. The particle size distribution is narrow with the size range 20–40 nm for the sample containing 5 at.% tantalum ions calcined at 700 °C. The stabilization of the metastable tetragonal form is probably due to the strong TaO bonds, which hinder the reorientation of atoms during phase transformation.