Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Material

Abstract

A zirconia nanoparticle material includes a zirconia nanoparticle and a carbonate coordinated on a surface of the zirconia nanoparticle. The carbonate is 1 to 10 parts by weight of the zirconia nanoparticle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zirconia nanoparticle material, comprises:
 a zirconia nanoparticle; and   a carbonate coordinated on a surface of the zirconia nanoparticle, and being 1 to 10 parts by weight of the zirconia nanoparticle.   
     
     
         2 . The zirconia nanoparticle material of  claim 1 , further comprising an element of calcium, magnesium, yttrium, titanium, aluminum, cerium or lanthanide doped in the zirconia nanoparticle, wherein a molar ratio of the doped element to zirconium of the zirconia nanoparticle is smaller than 0.2. 
     
     
         3 . The zirconia nanoparticle material of  claim 1 , wherein a particle size of the zirconia nanoparticle is in a range from about 1 nm to 10 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The zirconia nanoparticle material of  claim 1 , wherein the zirconia nanoparticle is in monoclinic phase, tetragonal phase, cubic phase or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The zirconia nanoparticle material of  claim 4 , wherein the zirconia nanoparticle is in cubic phase. 
     
     
         6 . A method of preparing a zirconia nanoparticle material, comprising:
 providing an organic-free solvent;   dispersing a precursor in the organic-free solvent to obtain an aqueous mixture, the precursor comprising a hydroxide or a salt of zirconium and a hydroxide or a salt of sodium, wherein at least one of the salts of zirconium and sodium is a carbonate;   heating the aqueous mixture at about 90° C. to 120° C. for about 4 hours to 12 hours; and   recovering solids in the aqueous mixture to obtain zirconia nanoparticles having carbonate coordinated thereon.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the hydroxide or the salt of zirconium is zirconium carbonate, zirconium hydroxide, or a combination thereof, and the hydroxide or the salt of sodium is sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium orthozirconate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a molar ratio of the sodium to the carbonate is no less than 2.6. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein recovering the solids in the aqueous mixture comprises:
 separating the solids from the aqueous mixture;   washing the solids with water, acetone, carbonic acid, ammonium bicarbonate, or a combination thereof; and   drying the solids.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising replacing the carbonate with an organic ligand or an inorganic ligand, wherein the organic ligand or the inorganic ligand is coordinated on the surface of the zirconia nanoparticles.