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Solvothermal Synthesis of Monodisperse Porous Zirconia Spheres with Large Surface Area
Author(s) -
Kan Kai,
Yamamoto Emi,
Ohtani Masataka,
Kobiro Kazuya
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.202000813
Subject(s) - dispersity , cubic zirconia , porosity , chemical engineering , chemistry , exothermic reaction , yield (engineering) , stabiliser , catalysis , zirconium , nanoparticle , autoclave , acetylacetone , specific surface area , materials science , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , composite material , ceramic , engineering
We developed non‐aggregated monodisperse ZrO 2 porous spheres by a one‐pot single‐step solvothermal synthesis. A mixture of zirconium(IV) tetra‐ n ‐butoxide as a metal source and acetylacetone as an additive in ethanol was heated up to 300 °C in a 10 mL batch type reactor to yield perfectly monodisperse porous spheres of ZrO 2 in almost quantitative yield with large surface area of 301 m 2 /g as well as nano‐concave‐convex surface structure. Especially, the concentration of acetylacetone was crucial in the reaction to form beautiful spheres. The reaction was easily scaled‐up to 500 mL autoclave scale yielding porous spheres with 244 m 2 /g specific surface area. The monodisperse ZrO 2 porous spheres worked as an effective catalyst support comprising Ni nanoparticles, exhibiting in excellent dispersibility of the Ni nanoparticles. The resultant monodisperse ZrO 2 porous spheres were tested as a catalyst for highly exothermic CO 2 methanation, resulting in superior catalytic activity and thermal tolerance during repeated heating‐cooling cycles of three‐run tests.