Influence of pH and temperature parameters on the sol-gel synthesis process of meso porous ZrC nanopowder

Influence of pH and temperature parameters on the sol-gel synthesis process of meso porous ZrC nanopowder

Zirconium carbide nanopowders were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Sol was prepared in a four-component system of alkoxide, water, catalyst, and dispersant based on the sol-gel chemical process under acidic conditions. The impact of pH and temperature parameters on the synthesis process of these nanoparticles was evaluated. TEM, DTA/TG/ XRD/ FTIR/DLS analyses were used to assess the properties of the product. The results of sol preparation indicated that Zr-containing precursor particles less than 10 nm could be synthesized by controlling pH around 5. According to the FTIR data, Zr-O and Zr-C bonds were estimated to be 560 and 505 cm-1, respectively. DTA/TG analysis indicated that the primary particles of ZrC were generated around 1320 ºC, as demonstrated by the X-ray diffraction pattern. BET analysis indicated a high surface area for the particles of approximately 153.42 m2/g, and that the surfaces of these particles were meso porous. TEM images and their diffraction pattern reported the synthesis of crystalline carbide particles to be smaller than 50 nm.