Solvothermal synthesis of zirconia and yttria-stabilized zirconia nanocrystalline particles

A solvothermal method was used to prepare zirconia and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) particles using zirconium hydroxide and yttrium hydroxide particles as precursors and ethanol or isopropanol as reaction media. The particle properties were characterized with x-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis, laser particle-size analysis, nitrogen adsorption (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method) and Zeta potential analysis. Cubic/tetragonal ZrO₂ and YSZ nanocrystals with crystallite size around 5 nm were obtained. The effect of different hydroxide precursors, attrition milling of hydroxide precursors, solvothermal processing conditions, and mineralizer was investigated and discussed by referring to the crystallization process of zirconium hydroxides.