Zirconia Nanoparticles Research Articles

Comparison of Surface Microhardness of Portland Cement Associated with Niobium Oxide and Zirconium Nanoparticles with the Mineral Aggregate Trioxide

To determine the surface microhardness of white portland cement associated with niobium nanoparticles, white portland cement associated with zirconium nanoparticles, and mineral trioxide aggregate. The present study is an experimental in-vitro study. The sample consisted of 03 study groups. These were divided into 09 subgroups of 04 hours, 14 days and 28 days. The instrument used to record the surface mechanical microhardness was the Vickers microdurometer. The Shapiro-Wilk statistical analysis was then performed to identify the normality of the data. The Anova test was applied to compare between the three groups and then the Tukey test for multiple comparisons with a 95% confidence level. White Portland cement associated with zirconium nanoparticles had the highest hardness value (p<0.05), followed by white Portland cement associated with niobium nanoparticles and aggregate control cement of mineral trioxide. The lowest value of surface microhardness was obtained by the addition of mineral trioxide (p<0.05). Surface microhardness values were significantly higher at 28 days than at 04 hours for all groups evaluated. White Portland cement with/without nanoparticulate additives generated higher surface microhardness than the control group added mineral trioxide in the evaluation periods.

Effect of heat treatment on charge states, thermophysical and mechanical properties of polypropylene doped with ZrO2 nanoparticles

Charge states, thermophysical and mechanical properties of polypropylene doped with zirconium oxide nanoparticles, and their changes during heat treatment at temperatures 60 °C, 100 °C, and 140 °C are studied. The methods used are thermal stimulated depolarization (TSD), scanning differential calorimetry (SDC), and mechanical life assessment. It is shown that with an increase in the concentration of the filler, the intensity of the TSD peaks increases up to 3 vol.%. A further increase in concentration leads to a decrease in the intensity of the peaks. The activation energy of charge release from traps, temperature of maximum of the peaks, and the magnitude of the accumulated charge in the traps have also maximal value at nanoparticle concentration of 3 vol.%. The study of charge characteristics of the nanocomposite with concentration of 3 vol.% after heat treatment shows that the intensity of TSD peaks, the temperature of peak maxima, and the activation energy of charge release increase with increasing pretreatment temperature. The magnitude of the charge accumulated in traps has a maximal value at treatment temperature of 140 °C owing to the increase in the number of traps. The melting point of the composite is 149.38 °C and shifts to 146.88 °C after heat treatment at 140 °C. It indicates that the high temperature of heat treatment leads to partial destruction of polymer chains, leading to a decrease in the critical melting temperature. The mechanical durability of PP + 3%ZrO2 nanocomposite decreases with increase in pretreatment temperature.

Linear volumetric additive manufacturing of zirconia from a transparent photopolymerizable ceramic slurry via Xolography

Advanced ceramics printed with photon-based additive manufacturing deals with anisotropic mechanical properties from the layer-by-layer manufacturing. Motivated by the success in using highly filled transparent slurries containing nanoparticles for powder-based two-photon-polymerization (2PP) for advanced ceramic printing, this works approach is the transfer to Xolography, a volumetric additive manufacturing technology based on linear two-photon excitation and without recoating steps. This paper reports the results of a preliminary investigation optimizing the photocurable slurry to the requirements of Xolography in terms of transparency, over a significantly larger mean free path, compared to 2PP. A feedstock filled with 70 % weight fraction of ceramic particles (∼30 vol%) exhibiting an exceptionally high degree of transparency in the relevant wavelength range of 400–800 nm was prepared from 5 nm zirconia nanoparticles. The high transparency of the photocurable slurry is attributed to the near-monomodal particle size distribution of the zirconia nanoparticles used.

Zirconium and cerium dioxide fabricated activated carbon-based nanocomposites for enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic removal of methylene blue and tetracycline hydrochloride

Activated carbon (AC) is a porous, amorphous form of carbon known for its strong adsorption capacity, making it highly effective for use in wastewater treatment. In this investigation, AC-based nanocomposites (NCs) loaded with zirconium dioxide and cerium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2/CeO2 NPs) were successfully synthesized for the effective elimination of methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs have a size of 231.83 nm, a zeta potential of −20.07 mV, and a PDI value of 0.160. The adsorption capacities of AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs for MB and TCH were proved in agreement with the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo 1st order kinetic model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined to be 75.54 mg/g for MB and 26.75 mg/g for TCH. Notably, AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs exhibited superior photocatalytic degradation efficiency for MB and TCH under sunlight irradiation with removal efficiencies reaching up to 97.91% and 82.40% within 90 min, respectively. The t1/2 for the photo-degradation process of MB and TCH were 11.55 min and 44.37 min. Analysis of active species trapping confirmed the involvement of hole (h+), superoxide anion (•O2−), and hydroxyl radical (•OH) in the degradation mechanism. Furthermore, the residual solution post-contaminant removal exhibited minimal toxicity towards Artemia salina and NIH3T3 cells. Importantly, the NCs did not exhibit antibacterial activity against tested pathogens post-absorption/degradation of TCH. Thus, AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs could be a promising nanomaterial for wastewater treatment applications.

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Biological activity of Optimized Alfalfa‐Mediated Zirconium Nanoparticles

AbstractNanoparticle green synthesis is an emerging scientific field that focuses on the production of nanoparticles by living cells. In this work, the potential of extracts of alfalfa leaves (Medicago sativa) as affordable and fabricated zirconium nanoparticles (ZrNPs) was evaluated for the first time. alfalfa alcoholic extract and zirconium precursor were used to produce ZrNPs, the production and characteristics of nanoparticles were measured using the Tyndall effect, UV‐vis, FT‐IR, EDX, DLS, and SEM tests, antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and toxicity Measurement of nanoparticles on breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐468) and human healthy cells (HFF) was investigated. The optimization of nanoparticle production was evaluated with ANN and GN algorithms. The analysis showed that nanoparticles have spherical‐like ZrNPs shapes with an average of 50 nm size. in addition, ZrNPs have significant cytotoxic effects against human breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐468) cells, and Human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells exhibited the highest resistance to ZrNPs. There was a significant agreement between the results of the designed ANN‐GA model and the experimental data. In this research, ZrNP was successfully created using alfalfa extract as a renewable source of stabilizing and reducing agents with an environmentally friendly approach, and they showed significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.

Flexural properties of additive manufactured resin designated for interim fixed dental prosthesis: Effect of nanoparticles, build direction, and artificial aging

ObjectiveThis study investigates the flexural strength and elastic modulus of three-dimension (3D) printed interim resin (ASIGA) incorporating zirconium dioxide (nano-ZrO2) and silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) with different build direction and after artificial aging. MethodsThree hundred 3D-printed specimens were used for testing. Groups were modified with nano-ZrO2 or nano-SiO2 at concentrations of 0.5 wt% or 1 wt% and an unmodified control group remained unmodified (n = 10). The bar-shaped specimens (25 × 2 × 2 mm) were printed at 0, 45, and 90 degree orientations. Flexural properties were assessed using a universal testing machine. The study employed various analyses to assess material properties and bonding. ResultsThe flexural strength was significantly improved (P<0.001) by the inclusion of nano-ZrO2 or nano-SiO2, with a maximum value of 61.8 ± 4.3 MPa with 1 wt% nano-ZrO2 at 45° build direction. The highest elastic modulus value observed was 998.2 ± 91.2 MPa with 0.5 wt% nano-SiO2 at 90° build direction. Build direction, NP type, and NP concentration all had a statistically significant combined effect on flexural strength and elastic modulus (P=0.003*, P=0.045), respectively. ConclusionIncorporation of nano-SiO2 and nano-ZrO2 increased the flexural properties of the interim resin used in 3D printing. Following artificial aging, all the flexural property values in the modified groups showedminimal reduction regardless of the nanoparticle concentration, while the unmodified control group showed a significant reduction. Before and after artificial aging, samples at a 0 degree build direction had a considerably higher flexural strength, although the highest elastic modulus values were found in the 90 degree group. The findings underscore the potential of nanocomposites in strengthening interim dental restorations, offering promising advancements for clinical practice.

Zirconia Nanoparticles Uniformly Supported on Mesoporous Alumina–Carbon as a Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Direct Ethanol-to-Butadiene Reaction

Zirconia Nanoparticles Uniformly Supported on Mesoporous Alumina–Carbon as a Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Direct Ethanol-to-Butadiene Reaction

A recyclable, interchangeable optical switch with a PDLC-PVA-PSCLC structure and a low-voltage drive system

ABSTRACT Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) and polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLC) are an indispensable class of electrically switchable materials, which have been widely applied in the fabrication of efficient and systematic smart windows. And doping nanoparticles in PDLC films can greatly improve their properties. In this study, PDLC films doped with zirconia nanoparticles were prepared by polymerisation-induced phase separation (PIPS) method, PSCLC films with nematic liquid crystals as the main part (reflecting wavelengths in the range of 400–600 nm) were prepared by UV curing method, and a novel optical switch was developed by combining these two liquid crystal films. The optimal bilayer sample was developed through a comparative analysis of properties among samples with varying formulations for each liquid crystal layer. This study represents a novel advancement in PSCLC and nanoparticle-doped PDLC bilayer structures, showcasing fully actuatable properties in the visible wavelength range. These structures exhibit excellent electro-optical properties and demonstrate stable, sustainable performance that can be regenerated. The findings underscore the potential of PDLC and PSCLC for applications in smart curtains and flexible materials, opening up new avenues for innovative technological applications.

Improving the performance of cutting fluids by using ZnO and ZrO2 nanoparticles

Sustainability is nowadays a global research priority, especially in machining, where optimizing production processes for increased productivity, profits, and efficiency is key. Addressing this need, the adoption of nanofluids in minimum quantity lubrication machining has surged, aligning with environmental concerns and regulatory demands. In this study, sustainable zinc oxide (ZnO) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles fabricated using plant extracts have been incorporated into conventional cutting fluids to enhance their machinability performance under minimum quantity lubrication for turning process. The microstructural analysis confirms the successful synthesis of the targeted nanoparticles with excellent purity and size distribution. The addition of nanoparticles significantly enhanced thermal conductivity from 0.5916 W/(m⋅K) for the base fluid to 0.6286 W/(m⋅K) for ZnO and to 0.6242 W/(m⋅K) for ZrO2. Further, nanofluids exhibited an increased dynamic viscosity, 1.435 mPa.s for ZrO2 and 1.125 mPa.s for ZnO as compare to 0.7644 mPa.s of base fluid, attributed to the nanoparticle confinement effect whereas contact angle measurements indicated an improved wettability for all nanofluids. Machining experiments validate the efficacy of nanofluids, demonstrating reduced cutting temperatures and enhanced surface finish. Notably, ZrO2-based nanofluids exhibit improved tribological response, while ZnO-based nanofluids showcase exceptional heat transfer ability, offering promising solutions to key technical challenges in machining processes. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of green, sustainable ZnO and ZrO2 nanoparticles as additives in cutting fluids, poised to revolutionize metalworking and manufacturing processes, thereby enhancing product quality and sustainability.

Significant Electrochemical Performance of Zirconia Nanoparticles Decorated with Polyaniline for Next Generation Electrode Materials in Supercapacitor Applications

Significant Electrochemical Performance of Zirconia Nanoparticles Decorated with Polyaniline for Next Generation Electrode Materials in Supercapacitor Applications

Zirconia nanoparticles/carbon quantum dots modified carbon paste electrode as electrochemical sensor for determination of antiepileptic drug eslicarbazepine acetate in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage form

A new, sensitive and selective electrochemical method has been developed for determination of the antiepileptic prodrug eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) that is used for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. It belongs to the class of sodium channel blockers called dibenzoazepine family. A novel modified zirconia nanoparticles carbon paste nanocomposite, carbon dots sensor prepared from banana peels by solvothermal method has been fabricated. The voltammetric method is based on the direct anodic oxidation of ESL at the electrode surface using differential pulse voltammetry. Under the optimum experimental conditions, ESL exhibited a linear relationship in the range of 3.04 × 10-8 to 9.66 × 10-5 M with a lower detection limit of 7.57 × 10-9 M and quantification limit of 2.29 × 10-8 M. The proposed method was validated according to ICH guidelines and was applied for estimating ESL in raw material showing high accuracy and precision with successful application on tablet dosage form.

ZrO2 and ZnO nanoparticles effect on setting time, microhardness, and compressive strength of calcium-enriched-mixture cement

Aim: Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement is an endodontic biomaterial; however, enhancing its physical/mechanical properties remains a challenge. This in vitro study investigates the influence of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on the setting time, microhardness, and compressive strength of CEM cement. Methods: Four different groups of CEM cement were prepared: a control group without nanoparticles, two groups with ZrO2 or ZnO, and a group with a combination of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were added to the powder in predetermined concentrations. The setting time was evaluated using the Gilmore needle method, while microhardness and compressive strength were determined using Vickers hardness and a universal testing machine, respectively. Results: The incorporation of ZnO slightly reduced the setting time, while the addition of ZrO2 significantly prolonged it compared to the control group. Interestingly, the combination of both nanoparticles exhibited a setting time comparable to that of the control group. Regarding the microhardness and compressive strength, both ZrO2 and ZnO significantly improved these properties compared to the control group. The combination of both nanoparticles showed the highest microhardness and compressive strength values among all groups. Conclusions: The addition of nanoparticles to CEM cement effectively modifies its physical and mechanical properties. The optimal combination of these nanoparticles can potentially achieve an improved balance between setting time and enhanced mechanical performance.

Cytotoxicity of Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticles on Rabbit Tooth Gum Cells

The cytotoxicity mechanism of zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO2-NPs) has not been clarified to-date. Nevertheless, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ZrO2-NPs has been perceived as an important mechanism in some in vivo studies. Accordingly, this study was conducted to identify the potential effects of ZrO2-NPs on rabbit tooth gum cells as well as the mechanism/s of their cytotoxicity. Synthesized ZrO2-NPs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Cell viability, ROS level, lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), glutathione count (GSH/GSSG), lysosome damage and apoptosis/necrosis were evaluated. Biodistribution studies were conducted on tooth gum, liver, kidney, heart and brain tissues in the rabbit using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). ZrO2-NPs increased ROS, MMP collapse and malondialdehyde (MDA). In contrast, GSH/GSSG and apoptosis/necrosis were found to be changed. The ZrO2-NPs accumulated significantly more on rabbit tooth gum tissues compared with other organs ([Formula: see text]). The study provided evidence that ZrO2-NPs cannot be considered completely biocompatible in the gum cell tissues of the rabbit. Before these nanoparticles can be used for human dental applications, further investigations on a wide range of cell death signaling should be performed.

A Comprehensive Investigation of Nanocomposite Polymer Flooding at Reservoir Conditions: New Insights into Enhanced Oil Recovery

Recently, the polymer-nanoparticle combination has garnered significant interest in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) due to its promising experimental results. However, the previous research was mostly directed at silica, while alumina and zirconia nanoparticles have gotten the least consideration. Unlike previous works, this study aims to investigate the influence of three NPs: Silica (SiO2), Alumina (Al2O3), and Zirconia (ZrO2) on hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM). To this end, three nanocomposites were formulated: HPAM-SiO2, HPAM-Al2O3, and HPAM-ZrO2. Rheological evaluations were performed to examine the viscosity degradation of the three nanocomposites and HPAM under reservoir conditions. Furthermore, interfacial tension (IFT) at the oil–water interface and wettability studies were investigated. Moreover, sand-pack flooding was performed to examine the incremental oil recovery. The results revealed that the polymer viscosity was boosted by 110%, 45%, and 12% for HPAM-SiO2, HPAM-Al2O3, and HPAM-ZrO2 respectively under the investigation range of temperature. Moreover, the polymer viscosity was improved by 73%, 48%, and 12% for HPAM-SiO2, HPAM-Al2O3, and HPAM-ZrO2 respectively under the investigation range of salinity. Nanocomposites are also found to be a remarkable agent for reducing interfacial tension and changing the contact angle. The flooding experiments confirmed that the EOR by HPAM, HPAM-SiO2, HPAM-Al2O3, and HPAM-ZrO2, was 8.6%, 17.4%, 15.3%, and 13.6% of OOIP respectively. Moreover, the results of flooding experiments were well validated and matched by numerical simulation. Such findings of this work afford new insights into EOR and reinforce the promising outlook of such technique at the field scale.

Characterization and anticancer evaluation of zirconia nanoparticles synthesized via green route using sophora flavescens roots extract

The emergence of drug resistance in cancer cells has impeded recent progress in cancer therapy, leading to the investigation of novel anticancer drugs. The fabrication of metal and ZrO2 nanoparticles is a promising path with prospective applications across diverse technological domains. The present study investigates the potential anticancer effects of ZrO2 NPs obtained from the root extract of Sophora flavescens on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The structural and chemical features of these nanoparticles are analyzed using several techniques such as flow cytometry, SEM, TEM, FTIR, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The examination of XRD and TEM images demonstrates the significant contribution of plant root extract in enhancing the efficiency of nanoparticles, leading to the formation of nearly tetragonal crystal structures with an average size of 8 nm. The MTT experiment verifies the nanoparticles' anticancer activity, which depends on the dosage. The IC50 value of 253 μg/mL indicates the half-maximal inhibitory concentration. The optical microscope reveals an unusual sight: MCF-7 cells appear more spherical and less dense at higher concentrations. This research also investigates the antibacterial properties of ZrO2 nanoparticles against harmful bacteria, particularly those resistant to multiple drugs. The diffusion disk assay indicates that the nanoparticles are active against drug-resistant isolates, with zones of inhibition ranging from 31 to 55 millimeters. Additionally, the researchers noted a positive correlation between nanoparticle concentration and the size of the inhibition zone. Overall, the data indicates the potential of ZrO2 NPs to aid in cancer therapy as well as in combating infections.

Effect of titanium dioxide and zirconium dioxide nanoparticle incorporation on the thermal conductivity of heat-activated polymethylmethacrylate denture base resins: An in vitro experimental study.

The aim is to determine thermal conduction by heat-activated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) infiltrated with 1 weight% Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and 1 weight% Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles and to compare with that of conventional PMMA. In vitro experimental study. Eighteen disc shaped specimens with a thickness of 5 mm and diameter of 50 mm, were fabricated and grouped according to the material used: Group B1 (resin infiltrated with 1 weight% TiO2), Group B2 (resin infiltrated with 1 weight% ZrO2), and Control Group B3 (heat-activated conventional PMMA resin). Disc-shaped specimens were analyzed for thermal conductivity using "modified guarded hot plate apparatus" in the thermal lab of the Indian Space Research Organisation. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used to compare the arithmetic means of all three groups. A statistically significant difference was noted among all three groups. Group B2 had the maximum thermal conductivity, followed by Group B1. Thermal conductivity was the least for Group B3. A post hoc comparison revealed that the difference was significant between Group B2 and Group B3. Nano ZrO2 addition in PMMA increased its thermal conductivity. There is evidence that it improves its mechanical properties as well. Hence, Nano ZrO2 addition in PMMA is highly recommended. Nano TiO2 addition in PMMA did not provide any significant advantage in terms of thermal conductivity, but its addition in PMMA is justified because of its mechanical and antimicrobial properties.

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Zirconia Nanoparticles in Dental Applications

Scientists and dentists use tiny particles called ZrO2/Nps (Zirconia Nanoparticles) in medicine. In addition, zirconia particles are commonly used in the realm of medicine and dentistry. They are ideal for tooth structure because of their beneficial properties. The objective of this research is to prepare zirconium oxide nanoparticles in a simple and easy way. Nano-zirconium oxide is prepared using the co-precipitation method. The produced powder was diagnosed using tools like X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and spectroscopy, which also analyzed its properties such as X-ray spectroscopy and density measurement. The XRD results confirmed that the powder product has high purity. The crystal size range is 27.97nm. The results match the (JCPDS (ZrO2) sheet No.79-1769). The EDX test revealed the presence of the following elements (Zr–O). The test of SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) show that the particles nearly spherical and the size was 74.03nm. The Zr–O stretching modes and the Zr–O2–Zr bending modes were confirmed by the FTIR (Fourier transform infrared). The density of ZrO2/Np was measured several times and determined it to be (5.07±0.12 g/cm3).

Adaptive mechanisms of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in response to oral disease: Evaluating chitosan-calcium zirconium nanoparticle biomaterials for tissue engineering

This study aims to investigate the adaptive strategies employed by dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in response to oral disease conditions, focusing on their survival and proliferation. DPSCs possess regenerative potential and play a crucial role in the repair and regeneration of dental tissues. The study explores the coping mechanisms of DPSCs under oral disease conditions using a chitosan-based biomaterial reinforced with calcium zirconium nanoparticles (CZNP). The investigation assesses the viability and proliferation of DPSCs in the presence of oral disease conditions and evaluates the performance of the chitosan-CZNP biomaterial. The study presents the characterization and performance evaluation of drug-loaded biomaterials with varying weight percentages of CZNP. Parameters such as porosity, drug release, fracture toughness, tensile strength, degradation rate, and apatite formation are examined. The results demonstrate that increasing the weight percentage of CZNP leads to higher porosity and drug release while maintaining or enhancing fracture toughness, tensile strength, and apatite formation. Notably, the biomaterial containing 7.5 wt% CZNP exhibits the highest drug release, fracture toughness, and apatite formation. These findings suggest that the chitosan-CZNP biomaterial effectively supports the survival and proliferation of DPSCs under oral disease conditions. An artificial neural network (ANN) is employed to predict the properties of samples with different weight percentages and apatite formation. The ANN successfully estimates the degradation rate, tensile strength, fracture toughness, drug release, and porosity of the samples. This research enhances our understanding of the coping mechanisms of DPSCs and highlights the potential of chitosan-CZNP biomaterials in oral tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Further investigations are warranted to explore the long-term effects and clinical applications of these biomaterials in the treatment of oral diseases.

Bioorganic macromolecules crowned zirconia nanoparticles: protein-rich fish mucus inspired synthesis and their antibacterial efficacy assessment

Abstract The bioinorganic material, such as fish mucus macromolecules crowned zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) was synthesized via green methodology and has been investigated their efficacy on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains that inhabit the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tracts, and colon. The environmentally benign synthesis methodology was used for fabricating biofunctionalized ZrO2 NPs with three different concentrations of C. striatus epidermal mucus. Spherical morphology with a size ranging from 7 to 25 nm of synthesized granular was identified by FESEM analysis. The powder XRD diffractions of synthesized ZrO2 NPs were confirmed with the previously reported standard literature. Upon being subjected to a primary microbial study, the synthesized ZrO2 NPs were shown to exhibit antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial pathogens. However, another Gram-negative bacterial stain, Proteus vulgaris shows almost similar efficiency to standard antibacterial drugs. Interestingly, all Gram-positive bacterial strains show a high zone of inhibition at higher concentrations of synthesized ZrO2 NPs. In general, the antibacterial activity study proved that the synthesized biofunctionalized ZrO2 NPs may be applied as an efficient health care beneficial material.

Synthesize uniform ZrO2 NPs by non-coordination solvents and modification for high refractive film

Zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) are considered promising functional materials due to their high refractive index, thermal stability, and relatively wide bandgap. They can be particularly valuable when blended with monomer resins to create transparent composite materials with tunable refractive indices. However, the challenge of synthesizing uniformly sized and transparently dispersible ZrO2 NPs in organic resin monomers has been an ongoing research problem. In this study, we proposed an improved method based on an existing synthesis route for the production of ZrO2 NPs. We employed a sol-gel approach and introduced a simple yet effective strategy to synthesize ZrO2 NPs. Using high-boiling non-coordinating solvent squalane to adjust the concentration of oil amine ligands in the solution, helped to balance the nucleation and growth of ZrO2, thereby improving the size uniformity of ZrO2 NPs. In addition, the addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to the reaction system effectively promoted the crystal growth of ZrO2 without affecting its crystal structure and crystallinity. Simultaneously, this addition significantly reduced the content of surface oleylamine (OAm) ligands. Finally, ZrO2 was modified using 2-Ethylhexanoic acid (EHA) and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-570), achieving successful transparent dispersion within the high refractive index acrylic monomer, benzyl acrylate (BZA). In-situ polymerization was used with a UV initiator to produce a refractive index continuously tunable BZA/ZrO2 composite film.