Synthesis and characterization of alumina-zirconia nanopowders via an oxalate route

Nanocrystalline Al2O3-ZrO2 powder was synthesized by a simple method using oxalic acid as a chelating agent. The formation temperature of - Al2O3 was investigated by differential thermal analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that t-ZrO2 was stabilized in alumina matrix with oxalic acid content 0.5M and 1M, respectively. In addition, the data from XRD showed -Al2O3 and t-ZrO2 phase can be formed at 1100C with 1M oxalic acid content. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrograph of calcined powders revealed as the oxalic acid content in the precursor solutions is increased from 0.25M to 0.5M concentration. The obtained materials could be modified from segregated nanoparticles to agglomerated nanoparticles and finally to large agglomerate with 1M concentration of oxalic acid. The Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) confirms the formation of -Al2O3 in corroboration with X-ray studies.