Preparation and characterization of cubic ZrO2 stabilized by Fe(III) and Fe(II)

Samples of cubic ZrO2 containing 2.5–40 at% Fe(III) were prepared by codecomposition of the nitrates. X-ray powder diffraction analysis and magnetic measurements indicated that α-Fe2O3 and ZrO2 form a solid solution up to 25 at% FeZr in the product. At this point, the solubility limit of a-Fe2O3 in ZrO2 is exceeded. The reduction of cubic zirconia samples containing 2.5–20 at% Fe(III) leads to the stabilization of iron(II) in the zirconia lattice. Reduction to metallic iron occurs at much higher temperatures than the reduction of bulk a-Fe2O3.