Chemical synthesis and structural characterization of nanocrystalline powders of pure zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ)

Nanocrystals of pure zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) are obtained by a simple chemical synthesis route using sucrose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and metal nitrates. The reaction mixture on pyrolysis and calcination gives nanocrystals. These are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The size of the nanocrystallites for pure zirconia is in the range of about 7.0-45.0 nm and for yttria stabilized zirconia, is in the range of about 5.0-24.0 nm at 200 degrees C and above, according to the preparative condition. At 200 degrees C, pure zirconia forms cubic phase and this cubic phase is stable up to 600 degrees C and then slowly transformed into monoclinic form. For yttria stabilized zirconia, the crystals are tetragonal in the temperature range from 200 to 1200 degrees C. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.