Formation of ZrTiO4 under Hydrothermal Conditions

Abstract—The formation of nanocrystals in the ZrO2–TiO2–H2O system during isothermal (240°C) treatment of coprecipitated hydroxides under hydrothermal conditions has been studied. The formation of solid solutions based on monoclinic ZrO2, anatase (TiO2), and a high-temperature disordered phase of variable composition ZrxTi(1 – x)O4 with a scrutinyite (α-PbO2) structure has been demonstrated. The average size of ZrxTi(1 – x)O4 crystallites is 16 ± 2 nm. The kinetic features of phase formation in the ZrO2–TiO2–H2O system have been studied. It has been shown that the phase of variable composition ZrxTi(1 – x)O4 is metastable and, with increasing hydrothermal treatment duration, decomposes into solid solutions based on monoclinic ZrO2 and anatase.