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.