Synthesis and characterization of nanosized ZrTiOsub(4) powders prepared by the sol-gel method

Abstract

Ceramic ZrTiO4 powders were prepared by a modified sol-gel method using zirconium oxychloride and titanium tetraisopropoxide. In situ high temperature X-ray diffraction results show that crystallization of the amorphous gel starts at 400 °C. Singlephase ZrTiO4 nanoparticles were obtained after heat treatment at 450 o C for 1 h. An average particle size of 46 nm has been determined by nitrogen adsorption analysis. After pressing these sinteractive powders, pellets with controlled pore size distribution were obtained by sintering at temperatures as low as 400 o C. The analysis of pores by mercury porosimetry show an average porosity of 45 %. Pressing and sintering the nanosized powders prepared by that modified sol-gel technique produced pellets that are good candidates to be used in humidity sensing devices.