Structural analysis, optical and mechanical properties of TixZr1-xO2 nanoparticles synthesized by modified co-precipitation route

The multiphase TixZr1-xO2 (0 <= x <= 1) nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method. The samples were stable at temperatures > 300 degrees C, so the samples were calcined at 600 degrees C to be more stable. The ZrO2 crystallite size nanoparticles is 13.19 nm with monoclinic mixed tetragonal structure, 36.97 nm for TiO2 nanoparticles with anatase and rutile mixed phase and 6-10 nm for TixZr1-xO2; (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.8) with orthorhombic phase except the sample Ti0.8Zr0.2O2 nanoparticles that had anatase phase of TiO2 mixed with tetragonal phase of ZrO2. TEM results show the morphology of the samples with spherical shape and the particle size was in the range 8-26 nm. The presence of titanium decreases the optical band gap of ZrO2 and converts it from ceramic materials to semiconductor materials. The addition of Ti enhanced the mechanical properties of TixZr1-xO2 (0 <= x <= 1) composites. The hardness increased from 0.51 GPa (ZrO2) to 0.55 GPa (Ti0.5Zr0.5O2).