Synthesis of highly stabilized zirconia sols from zirconium n-propoxide–diglycol system

Highly stable, homogeneous zirconia sols were prepared from zirconium n-propoxide modified by diglycol (HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH). The interaction of diglycol with zirconium n-propoxide was characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The enol form of diglycol was observed to chelate with zirconium n-propoxide and then strongly restrain both hydrolysis and condensation. Further, the effects of preparation parameters, such as pH and zirconium n-propoxide concentration, were discussed in detail.