Solution combustion synthesis and physicochemical characterization of ZrO2–MoO3 nanocomposite oxides prepared using different fuels

• Published in: Ceramics international 2011-12, Vol.37 (8), p.3101-3108
• Main Authors: Samantaray, S, Mishra, B G, Pradhan, D K, Hota, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Combustion synthesis; Crystallites; Fuels; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Oxides; Zirconium dioxide
• ISSN: 0272-8842
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2011.05.047

A series of MoO3-ZrO2 nanocomposite oxides with MoO3 contents in the range 2-20 mol% were prepared by the solution combustion method. Three different fuels (urea, glycine and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA)) were used to prepare MoO3-ZrO2 oxides. For comparison, MoO3-ZrO2 composite oxides were also prepared by impregnation of zirconia with molybdenum salt precursor and subsequent heat treatment. The synthesised nanomaterials were characterised by XRD, SEM, TEM and UV-VIS spectroscopy. XRD indicated selective stabilisation of the tetragonal phase of zirconia in the presence of MoO3. The method of preparation was crucial for the phase composition of zirconia in the composite oxide. The crystallite size and RMS strain were calculated from the Fourier line shape analysis of the broadened XRD profiles. With increasing MoO3 content, the crystallite size of the tetragonal zirconia phase was reduced. TEM indicated the presence of small nanoparticles with sizes in the range 5-10 nm. UV-VIS spectroscopy revealed well dispersed molybdenum oxide in the form of monomer, dimers and nanoclusters in the zirconia matrix. The nature of the fuel was crucial in determining the morphology and shape of the particles.