Nucleation and Growth of Uniform m-ZRO2

Abstract

ABSTRACTHydrothermal treatment of zirconyl salt solutions produces uniform m-ZrO2 powder on the order of 80 nm. This powder is porous, has a 3-nm crystallite size, and exhibits an unusually high degree of crystallographic alignment within particles. The generation of this powder occurs via a complex process involving nucleation, growth, and controlled agglomeration of primary particles. Particle formation, crystallographic alignment and particulate uniformity are explained in terms of solution reactions and colloidal behavior.