Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters)

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Optimizing the Preparation Parameters of Nanocrystalline Zirconia for Catalytic Applications

M.M. Abd El-Latif1), M.S.Showman1), A.M. Ibrahim2,3), M.M. Soliman4)   

  1. 1) Fabrication Technology Department, Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications(SRTA-City), Alexandria, Egypt
    2) Dharyya Colleges for Science and Atrs Qassim University, Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia
    3) Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Center, Al Buhouth St., Cairo, Egypt
    4) Department of Materials Science, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research,Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
     
  • Received:2013-01-06 Revised:2013-05-19 Online:2013-10-25 Published:2013-09-13
  • Contact: M.M. Abd El-Latif

Abstract:

Nanocrystalline zirconia powder with high surface area and high tetragonal phase percentage is prepared by the precipitation method using ammonium hydroxide as a precipitating agent. The pH of precipitation, preparation temperature and calcinations' temperature are optimized. Crystallite size, specific surface area, tetragonal phase percentage and the thermal stability of the prepared samples are identified by different characterization tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The optimum preparation parameters for obtaining nanocrystalline zirconia with high percentage of tetragonal phase and high surface area are pH 9, preparation temperature of 80℃ and calcinations'temperature of 400℃. The sample prepared under optimizedconditions showed a high specific surface area of 179.2 m2/g,high tetragonal phase percentage of 81% and high catalytic activity (60%) for synthesis of butyl acetate ester.

Key words: Tetragonal zirconia, Nanocrystalline zirconia, Precipitation Synthesis, Catalytic properties of zirconia, Esterification with zirconia