title: Controlling the particle size of ZrO2 nanoparticles in hydrothermally stable ZrO2/MWCNT composites.
abstract: The composite of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with ZrO(2) nanoparticles, synthesized by a grafting method followed by high-temperature annealing, was studied. The oxygen functionalized MWCNT surface uniformly disperses and stabilizes the oxide nanoparticles to an extent that is controlled by the metal oxide loading and thermal annealing temperature. This ZrO(2)/MWCNT also withstands decomposition in a hydrothermal environment providing potential applications in the catalysis of biomass conversion (e.g., aqueous phase reforming). The ZrO(2)/MWCNT have been characterized by (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), in situ wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and near edge X-ray fine structure (NEXAFS) for the purpose of a comprehensive analysis of the ZrO(2) particle size and particle size stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8682, USA.
authors.forename: Changchang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sungchul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Byeongdu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sungsik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Randall E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Winans
authors.forename: Chunrong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vajda
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pfefferle
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Haller