Synthesis zirconia nanomaterials

Gamweitner, G. Zirconia nanomaterials Synthesis and biomedical application. In Nanomaterials for the Life Sciences Vol. 2 Nanostructured Oxides (Ed. C. Kumar), 2009, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim (Germany). 

The synthesis of zirconia nanomaterials by a one-step sol-gel route under supercritical C02(l) drying using zirconium alkoxides and acetic acid was reported by Sui et al. [24]. Their materials exhibited high surface areas (up to 399 m /g) and porosity, while the calcined materials demonstrated tetragonal and/or monoclinic nanocrystallites. Either a translucent or opaque monolith was obtained. Investigation by electron microscopy showed that the translucent monolithic Z1O2 exhibited a well-defined mesoporous structure, while the opaque monolith, formed using added alcohol as a co-solvent, was composed of loosely compacted nanospherical particles with a diameter of approximately 20 nm. 

The chapter incorporates a comprehensive overview of the synthesis and use of zirconia nanomaterials in the Hfe sciences today. First, an overview is provided of the synthetic schemes for nanoparticles and anisotropic nanostructures, with the most frequently used strategies being discussed, together with examples. In general, the syntheses are described with no specific application in mind rather, the discussion will center on synthetic approaches for nanomaterials used in biomedical applications, or which may be further processed to materials capable of use in the life sciences. 

During the two decades that have passed since the above-described studies were conducted, the synthesis of nanomaterials has attracted enormous attenhon, and the synthesis of nanostructured zirconia has become a focus of research. Whereas, during the early days research into nanoscale particles was carried out mainly by those achve in the field of ceramics, today the major inveshgahons into nanostruc-... 

Unlike zirconia nanoparticle synthesis, the preparation of anisotropic zirconia nanomaterials has been rarely reported, with the preparation of nanoparticles with a rice- or fiber-hke morphology having been achieved in solution-based processes, and the underlying mechanisms not yet understood. Template-based processes, both in solution and in gas phase, have however been successfully employed to prepare nanorods and nanotubes, using common polymer-based membranes and anodic alumina as templates. 

Xin, X., Lit, Z., Huang, X., Sha, X., Zhang, Y. and Su, W. (2006) Influence of synthesis routes on the performance from weakly agglomerated yttria-stabilized zirconia nanomaterials. Materials Research Bulletin, 41, 1319-29. 

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