title: High-yield sol-gel synthesis of well-dispersed, colorless ZrO(2) nanocrystals.
abstract: A 93% high-yield synthesis of well-dispersed, colorless zirconium dioxide (ZrO(2)) nanocrystals is reported. In this synthesis, hydrolysis and condensation reactions of zirconium(IV) tert-butoxide in the presence of oleic acid (100 degrees C) formed ZrO(2) precursors. The ZrO(2) precursors were made of -Zr-O-Zr- networks surrounded by oleic acid molecules. Annealing (280 degrees C) the precursors dispersed in dioctyl ether caused crystallization of the -Zr-O-Zr- networks, thereby generating 4 nm ZrO(2) nanocrystals stabilized with oleic acid. The particles were highly crystalline and tetragonal phase. A dense ZrO(2) nanocrystal dispersion in toluene (280 mg/mL) showed a transmittance of about 90% (3 mm optical path length) in the whole visible region.
authors.affiliation: Sony Corporation, Sendai Technology Center, 3-4-1 Sakuragi, Tagajo, Miyagi 985-0842, Japan. Mikihisa.Mizuno@jp.sony.com
authors.forename: Mikihisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Sungkil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katakura