Synthesis and characterization of monoclinic ZrO2 nanorods by a novel and simple precursor thermal decomposition approach

Single crystal monoclinic ZrO2 nanorods with diameters of 20–60 nm and lengths of up to several micrometers were synthesized by using a simple precursor thermal decomposition in NaCl flux with ZrO2·CO2·H2O as the precursor, which was prepared by one-step, solid-state reaction of ZrOCl2·8H2O and Na2CO3 at ambient temperature. The crystallinity, purity, morphology, and structure features of the as-prepared ZrO2 powders were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.