Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline ZrO2 and surface modification with 2-acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate

For the utilization as inorganic/organic hybrid nanomaterials for optical purposes, nanocrytalline tetragonal ZrO₂ was synthesized by hydrothermal method using zirconium(IV)-n-propoxide as precursor material. Surface of the ZrO₂ particles was then modified with 2-acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate used as a copolymer for coatings. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that both ZrO₂ and modified ZrO₂ are in tetragonal crystalline phase. As proved by transmission electron microscope and particle size analysis, average particle sizes of ZrO₂ and modified ZrO₂ were found as 6.22 and 14.7 nm, respectively. ZrO₂ powder was easily dispersed either in water or n-hexane. Ultraviolet diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer analysis for ZrO₂ and surface modified ZrO₂ showed that maximum absorption peaks are at 215 and 225 nm, respectively.