Mesoporous silica templated zirconia nanoparticles

• Nanoparticles of zirconium oxide (ZrO2)were synthesized by infiltration of a zirconia precursor(ZrOCl28H2O) into a SBA-15 mesoporous silicamold using a wet-impregnation technique. X-raydiffractometry and high-resolution transmission electronmicroscopy show formation of stable ZrO2nanoparticles inside the silica pores after a thermaltreatment at 550 C. Subsequent leaching out of thesilica template by NaOH resulted in well-dispersedZrO2 nanoparticles with an average diameter of*4 nm. The formed single crystal nanoparticles arefaceted with 110 surfaces termination suggesting it tobe the preferred growth orientation. A growth modelof these nanoparticles is also suggested.

Nyckelord

Zirconia - Nanoparticles - Mesoporous silica - Wet-impregnation - Metal oxide - Synthesis - Nanomanufacturing

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