Synthesis and characterization of Bi4Zr3O12 as an environment-friendly inorganic yellow pigment

Bi4Zr3O12 was synthesized as a novel environment -friendly inorganic yellow pigment by a conventional solid state reaction using Bi2O3 and ZrO2, and the optical properties of the pigment were characterized by UV-vis reflectance spectroscopy. The Bi4Zr3O12 sample selectively absorbed the visible and ultraviolet light at the wavelength shorter than 450 nm. As a result, the Bi4Zr3O12 sample exhibited a yellow color. The most vivid reddish yellow color was obtained for the sample synthesized at 800 degrees C. The yellowness value (b*) in the CIE L*a*b* system was comparable to that of a commercial praseodymium yellow pigment, while the redness value (a*) was larger. Consequently, the color of Bi4Zr3O12 was slightly reddish in contrast to that of slightly greenish praseodymium yellow, and, therefore, the Bi4Zr3O12 pigment should be a novel environment -friendly inorganic reddish yellow pigment. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.