Nano ZrO2 (Y2O3) particles processing by heating of ethanol–aqueous salt solutions

A new method of heating a ZrOCl2 and Y(NO3)3 solution with an ethanol–water mixture as a solvent was used to synthesize ZrO2(Y2O3) nanoparticles. The reaction mechanism, the influence of heating temperature and time on synthesizing process and final powder characteristics were investigated. It was revealed that during the heating period, the hydrolysis reaction of Y(NO3)3 was strongly suppressed and no Y(NO3)3 would precipitate. The composition of the precipitate was similar to when only ZrOCl2·8H2O was heated in the alcohol–aqueous solution. Only when the heating temperature was high enough that the dielectric constant decreased to <25 could precipitation occur. The higher the temperature, the shorter the time needed. The specific surface area of the powder was significantly influenced by heating time. To avoid agglomeration, heating time should be long enough to ensure complete reaction.