Particle Size Distribution of ZrO₂:Pr3⁺ – Influences of pH, High Power Ultrasound, Surfactant and Dopant Quantity

The aim of the work was to examine the influence of pH, high power ultrasound, surfactant and dopant quantity on the particle size distribution of ZrO2:Pr3+, with praseodymium content varying between 0.05 and 10 %. The nanopowders were obtained via a hydrothermal microwave driven process. To establish if the dopant was located on the surface of the zirconia nanoparticles, the particle size distribution, as a function of pH, was measured to obtain an estimate of the isoelectric point of the samples. All results indicated that the dopant was concentrated on the surface: the measurements of the particle size distribution show that the pH corresponding to maximum average particle size changes towards higher values when the Pr content increases. Measurements of the particle size distribution dependency on the application of high power ultrasound and the addition of the sodium dodecyl sulphate surfactant show that, under certain conditions, there is a better stabilisation of the nanopowders in a dispersion and undesirable agglomeration is hindered.