Phase composition controllable preparation of zirconia nanocrystals via solvothermal method

Abstract

Zirconia nanopowders are synthesized via solvothermal method at a temperature as low as 180°C without any additives. The pure tetragonal zirconia transforms into nearly pure monoclinic zirconia gradually with the progressing of solvothermal reaction, and the morphology of as-prepared nanoparticles grows up from spherical to short rodlike. The results of crystallite size estimated from XRD patterns using Scherrer equation show that the size of monoclinic zirconia ranges from 10nm to 50nm, while the size of tetragonal zirconia is below 5nm.