Advanced Properties in Fe-Doped Zirconia Nanoparticles

Discrete, well-shaped monoclinic Fe-doped ZrO2 nanoparticles were prepared in the range of nominal compositions Zr1-xFexO2-x/2, being 0 <= x <= 0.1 by a hydrothermal approach and their optical and chemical properties evaluated for potential application as photocatalysts. Monoclinic Fe-containing ZrO2 nanoparticles sized around 20 nm were obtained straightaway from the reagent mixture through the hydrothermal aging at 140 degrees C for 3 days. The thermal stability of those monoclinic Fe-ZrO2 solid solutions was followed by X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopies, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Further annealing at 800 degrees C brought monosized, monoclinic single-phase Fe-containing ZrO2 nanocrystals without significant microstructural changes. On comparing with other not conventional synthetic approaches to zirconia based solid solutions, it is to remark that the present hydrothermal approach lead to monoclinic form of zirconia solid solution. Some preliminary results on potential advanced applications of the prepared monoclinic Fe-ZrO2 solid solutions as photocatalysts will be discussed.