Preparation of t-ZrO2 by a sol–gel process with carbon as a phase transformation promoter

Cubic and tetragonal ZrO2 were synthesized by a sol–gel method using ethanol and glycerol as solvents and ZrOCl2·8H2O as zirconium source. The effect of phase stabilization with amorphous carbon was observed and discussed. The structural evolution, phase transformation and morphological characteristics of powders were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cubic and tetragonal phase could be generated in this system.