Thorium (IV) or titanium (IV) stabilized tetragonal zirconia nanocrystalline powders processed by chemical synthesis

Stabilized tetragonal zirconia nanocrystalline powders have been prepared through a chemical synthesis method using thorium (IV) or titanium (IV) salts. In this method, the precursor solution prepared from zirconyl nitrate, thorium nitrate or titanium tartarate and TEA (triethanolamine), which are evaporated, pyrolysed and calcined to nanocrystalline powders. Stabilizing ability of thorium (IV) is better than that of titanium (IV). In both the cases pure t-ZrO₂ is formed initially at the calcination temperature of 650 °C but their thermal stabilities are different. The crystallite sizes of the powders are in the range of 10–30 nm and the particle size is in the range of 30–70 nm within the range of calcination temperature of 650–1100 °C.