ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Preparation of nanocrystalline Gd₂Zr₂O₇ from mechanically activated coprecipitated precursor

A. M. Kalinkin, V. Yu. Vinogradov, E. V. Kalinkina, and V. N. Nevedomskii

Tananaev Institute of Chemistry, Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre “Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, Apatity, Russia

E-mail: kalinkin@chemy.kolasc.net.ru

Received: 23 May 2019  Accepted: 11 October 2019

Abstract:

In this study, the effect of mechanical activation of coprecipitated hydroxide precursor on synthesis of gadolinium zirconate Gd₂Zr₂O₇ has been studied. Mechanical activation of the precursor has been performed in an AGO-2 laboratory centrifugal-planetary mill at a centrifugal factor of 20 g with zirconia vials and balls. Particular attention has been given to carbonization of the as-prepared and mechanically activated precursors due to reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide and their decarbonization in the course of calcination. The removal of the volatile components (H₂O and CO₂) from the as-prepared and mechanically activated precursors can be achieved by calcination at 1100–1200 °C for 3 h. Calcination of the as-prepared and mechanically activated precursors in the range of 700–1200 °C results in the formation of nanocrystalline fluorite-type Gd₂Zr₂O₇. Gadolinium zirconate prepared from the mechanically activated precursor exhibits 4–9 times larger BET surface area relative to that of Gd₂Zr₂O₇ synthesized at the same calcination conditions from the as-prepared precursor. In particular, this is beneficial for preparation of nanostructured dense ceramic materials with enhanced properties.

Keywords: Gadolinium zirconate; Synthesis; Coprecipitation; Carbonization; Mechanical activation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00959-8

Chemical Papers 74 (4) 1161–1170 (2020)