Synthesis of ceria doped nanozirconia powder by a polymerized complex method

Nanocrystalline ceria-doped zirconia powders with mesoporous structure and tetragonal phase have been synthesized by a polymerized complex method based on the Pechini process. This method is based on the gelling of nitrate solutions by the addition of citric acid and ethylene glycol, followed by a calcination process. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption (BET), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were adopted for the characterization of the synthesized materials. The effects of citric acid to ethylene glycol, calcination temperature and ceria content on the properties of the ceria-doped zirconia have been investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis of the samples showed the stabilization of the tetragonal phase at room temperature because of their small crystallite sizes. These samples showed a mesoporous structure with low porosity.