Synthesis and optical properties of pure monoclinic zirconia nanosheets by a new precursor

Pure monoclinic zirconia nanosheets were successfully prepared by the polymeric complex method. In this approach, zirconium acetylacetonato, Zr(acac)4, citric acid (CA) and ethylene glycol (EG) were used as the source of Zr4+ and the chelating and polymerization agent, respectively. The effects of heat treatment and EG:CA ratios on the structure, morphology and zirconia particle size were investigated. UV–vis spectra illustrated that ZrO2 nanosheets did not show any extrinsic states aroused from surface trap states, defect states, or impurities.