Synthesis and characterization of pure cubic zirconium oxide nanocrystals by decomposition of bis-aqua, tris-acetylacetonato zirconium(IV) nitrate as new precursor complex

Pure zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanocrystals with diameters 10–30 nm are fabricated from bis-aqua, tris-acetylacetonato zirconium(IV) nitrate; [Zr(acac)3(H2O)2](NO3); by thermal decomposition. The different combinations of oleylamine, or polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and triphenylphosphine, were added as surfactants to control the particle size. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to depict the phase and morphology. The synthesized ZrO2 nanoparticles have a cubic structure. The FT-IR spectrum showed the purity of obtained ZrO2 nanocrystals with cubic phase. The UV–Visible absorption peak for ZrO2 was observed at 233 nm (5.3 eV in photon energy). The band at 363 nm for cubic ZrO2 nanocrystals was found.