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Sol–gel preparation of ZrC–ZrO2 composite microspheres using fructose as a carbon source

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
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Abstract

ZrC–ZrO2 composite ceramic microspheres were prepared by internal gelation combined with carbothermic reduction using fructose as a chelating agent and carbon source. Fructose in the precursor solution formed complex with zirconium ions, which was conducive to the refining of the microstructure of the sintered composite. ZrC–ZrO2 composite with ZrC content as high as 60 wt% could be prepared.

In this paper, fructose was used as a chelating agent and an organic carbon source to prepare ZrCO microspheres by internal gelation and carbothermic reduction. The fructose in the precursor solution could form complex with zirconium ions, which was conducive to the refining of the microstructure of the sintered composite. ZrC–ZrO2 composite with crystal size of ZrO2 and ZrC in nanometer range and ZrC content as high as 60 wt% could be successfully prepared.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support from Key Program for International S&T Cooperation Projects of China (no. 2016YFE0100700) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51420105006). “The Thirteenth Five-Year Plan” Discipline Construction Foundation of Tsinghua University (no. 2017HYYXKJS1) is also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China

    Xi Sun, Jingtao Ma, Xiaotong Chen, Ziqiang Li, Changsheng Deng & Bing Liu

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  1. Xi Sun
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  2. Jingtao Ma
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  3. Xiaotong Chen
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  4. Ziqiang Li
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  5. Changsheng Deng
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  6. Bing Liu
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Correspondence to Changsheng Deng.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Highlights

  • The fructose was used as a chelating agent and an organic carbon source to prepare ZrC–ZrO2 composite microspheres by internal gelation and carbothermic reduction.

  • The fructose in the precursor solution could form complex with zirconium ions, which was conducive to the refining of the microstructure of the sintered composite.

  • ZrC–ZrO2 composite microspheres with crystallite size of ZrO2 and ZrC less than 100 nm and ZrC content as high as 60 wt% could be successfully prepared.

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Sun, X., Ma, J., Chen, X. et al. Sol–gel preparation of ZrC–ZrO2 composite microspheres using fructose as a carbon source. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 86, 431–440 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-018-4653-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-018-4653-7

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