Full Tetragonal Phase Stabilization in ZrO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles Using Wet Impregnation: Interplay of Host Structure, Dopant Concentration and Sensitivity of Characterization Technique
Claudiu Colbea,
Daniel Avram,
Bogdan Cojocaru,
Raluca Negrea,
Corneliu Ghica,
Vadim G. Kessler,
Gulaim A. Seisenbaeva,
Vasile Parvulescu,
Carmen Tiseanu
Affiliations
Claudiu Colbea
National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, RO 76900 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania
Daniel Avram
National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, RO 76900 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania
Bogdan Cojocaru
Department of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, B-dul Regina Elisabeta, nr. 4-12, 030018 Bucharest, Romania
Raluca Negrea
National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele-Ilfov, Romania
Corneliu Ghica
National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele-Ilfov, Romania
Vadim G. Kessler
Department of Molecular Sciences, Biocenter, SLU, Box 7015, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Gulaim A. Seisenbaeva
Department of Molecular Sciences, Biocenter, SLU, Box 7015, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Vasile Parvulescu
Department of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, B-dul Regina Elisabeta, nr. 4-12, 030018 Bucharest, Romania
Carmen Tiseanu
National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, RO 76900 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania
Here, we show that wet impregnation of ZrO2 nanoparticles with 10% and 20% Eu oxide followed by thermal anneal in air above 500 °C produces full stabilization of the tetragonal phase of ZrO2 without evidencing any phase separation. The bare ZrO2 nanoparticles were obtained using three synthetic methods: oil in water microemulsion, rapid hydrothermal, and citrate complexation methods. The homogeneity of the solid solutions was assessed using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and advanced luminescence spectroscopy. Our findings show that wet impregnation, which is a recognized method for obtaining surface doped oxides, can be successfully used for obtaining doped oxides in the bulk with good homogeneity at the atomic scale. The limits of characterization technique in detecting minor phases and the roles of dopant concentration and host structure in formation of phase stabilized solid solutions are also analyzed and discussed.
