Phase formation in mixed TiO2-ZrO2 oxides prepared by sol-gel method

Abstract

Pure titania, zirconia, and mixed oxides (3-37 mol.% of ZrO2) are prepared using the sol-gel method and calcined at different temperatures. The calcined samples are characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption porosimetry. Measurements reveal a thermal stability of the titania anatase phase that slightly increases in the presence of 3-13 mol.% of zirconia. Practically, the titania anatase-rutile phase transformation is hindered during the temperature increase above 700°C. The mixed oxide with 37 mol.% of ZrO2 treated at 550°C shows a new single amorphous phase with a surface area of the nanoparticles double with respect to the other crystalline samples and the formed srilankite structure (at 700°C). The anatase phase is not observed in the sample containing 37 mol.% of ZrO2. The treatment at 700°C causes the formation of the srilankite (Ti0.63Zr0.37Ox) phase.