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.