Preparation of High Surface Area ZrO2 and ZrO2-Y2O3 from the Alkoxide

In order to obtain a catalyst support with a high surface area, ZrO2 and ZrO2-Y2O3 were prepared by the hydrolytic decomposition of the corresponding isopropoxide dissolved in benzene. The hydrolysis was carried out at 80 degrees C using an excess amount of distilled water in flowing dry nitrogen. The precipitates thus obtained were dried at 100 degrees C followed by calcination at 500 degrees C in air or nitrogen for 1 h. The specific surface areas for both of the ZrO2 and ZrO2-Y2O3 increased with increasing amount of water added for hydrolysis, and the surface areas for ZrO2-Y2O3 increased with increasing yttrium content. A ZrO2 having a surface area of 130 m(2)/g was produced, and a stabilized tetragonal ZrO2 with 15 mol% Y3+ having a surface area of 200 m(2)/g was produced. Furthermore, despite the difference in the ZrO2 and ZrO2-Y2O3 crystal structures, the lattice-strain of ZrO2 has been unequivocally related to the surface area.