ZrO2
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Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) is a refractory material and is also known as zirconia or baddeleyite that is a rare zirconium oxide mineral. It has three solid phases (monoclinic, tetragonal and cubic crystals) as shown in Figure 2070a. It changes from monoclinic to tetragonal at 1400 K and to cubic at 2641 K as shown in Figure 2070b. The cubic phase has a fluorite crystal structure. The monoclinic-to-tetragonal change is accompanied by a large volume reduction of ~7.5%, resulting in significant stresses. Figure 2070a indicates that dense parts may be obtained by sintering of the cubic or tetragonal phase only.

Crystal structure of monoclic (a), tetragonal (b) and cubic zirconia(c)

Figure 2070a. Crystal structure of monoclic (a), tetragonal (b) and cubic zirconia(c). Red spheres represent O atoms, while the other colors represent Zr atoms. Adapted from [1]

Phase transformation of zirconium oxide with increasing temperature

Figure 2070b. Phase transformation of zirconium oxide with increasing temperature.

Zr4+ in cubic ZrO2 has seven-fold coordination (Zr4+ is surrounded by seven oxygens), i.e., there are two types of O2- ions: O(l) with coordination number 3 and O(2) with coordination number 4. The distances between Zr and O are:
         d(Zr-O(1)) = 0.209 nm
         d(Zr-O(2)) = 0.221 nm

And, the average Zr-O distance in cubic ZrO2 is 0.216 nm.

However, in the tetragonal phase and cubic phase the Zr4+ ion has eight-fold coordination.

Table 2070. Properties of ZrO2.

 
Monoclic ZrO2
Tetragonal ZrO2
 Tetragonal modified-ZrO2
Rhombohedral ZrO2
Cubic ZrO2
Lattice parameters (Å)
a = 5.1454, b = 5.2075, c = 5.3107, α = 99.23° a = 5.094, c = 5.27 3 mol% Y2O3-ZrO2: a = 3.605 Å and c = 5.179 Å.
ZrO2: a = 3.598 Å and c = 5.165 Å		   5.065
Unit cell volume
 142.36 Å3        
Strukturbericht symbol
 C43 C4     Cl
Pearson symbol
 mP12 tP6     cF12
Space group
 P21/c P42/mnm P42/nmc   Fm-3m
Coordination number
 7        
Structure type
 Baddeleyite type Rutile type     Fluorite type
Polymorphism
 Monoclinic-tetragonal: 1273-1473; Tetragonal-cubic: 2643; Cubic-liquid: 2953
Temperature of stable structure (°C)
<1100   1100 < t < 2100   > 2100
Static dielectric constant (K)
         25
Conduction band (CB) offset on silicon substrate
         1.5
Band gap energy (eV)
         5.8
Molecular Weight (g/mol)
        123.11
Color
         white
Density (g/cm3)
5.83 5.68 - 6.05     5.80-6.09
Melting Point (°C)
2677-2710
 2680
2677-2710
Thermal Conductivity (W/m•°C)
1.5 at 25 °C, 1.675 at 100 °C, 2 at 1000 °C, 2.094 at 1300 °C
Maximum useful temperature (°C)
2400
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion (10-6/°C)

7 (parallel to a-axis), 2 (parallel to b-axis), 13 (parallel to c-axis)

9 (parallel to a-axis), 12 (parallel to c-axis)

  

7.5-13 (depending on stabilizer type and amount)
Specific heat capacity (cp,Jkg−1K−1)
 711       400
Heat of formation (kJ mol−1)
1096.73
Boiling point (K)
4548
Electrical Resistivity (μΩ•cm)
   7.7×107     1 x 1012
Refractive index
2.17 to 2.20
Birefringence
None
Mohs hardness
6.5
Vickers Hardness (GPa)
   12.2     16
Young’s Modulus (GPa)
   201     207
Flexural Strength (MPa)
   1074     900-1250
Compressive strength (MPa)
   7500      
Tensile strength (MPa)
   420      
Fracture toughness (MPa m1/2)
   6-15      
Effective electron masses (me/m0)
      Γ-X: 2.01 & 0.58; Γ-L: 0.78 & 0.78; Γ-K: 1.25 & 0.64  
Effective hole masses (mh/m0)
      X-Γ: 0.32; X-U: 2.64; X-W: 3.05  
Spectral emittance
0.2 (Visible wavelengths)
Dispersion
0.058 - 0.060
Others
     t-ZrO2: two formula units per cell and slight modification of fluorite structure. Zr (2a): (0 0 0) and O (4d): (0 0.5 Oz).    

Figure 2070c shows the variation of micro-hardness with deposition temperature for ZrO2.

Variation of micro-hardness with deposition temperature for ZrO2

Figure 2070c. Variation of micro-hardness with deposition temperature for ZrO2.

ZrO2 has many applications because of:
         i) Extremely high bending strength and tensile strength.
         ii) High resistance to wear and to corrosion.
         iii) High fracture toughness.
         iv) Thermal expansion similar to cast iron.
         v) Low thermal conductivity.
         vi) Good oxygen ion conductivity.
         vii) Very good tribological properties.

The applications of ZrO2 are mainly:
         i) Piezoelectricity devices.
         ii) PLZT ceramics.
         iii) High-temperature passivation of microelectronic devices.
         iv) Structural composites.
         v) Electrolytes.
         vi) Oxygen sensors.
         vii) Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).
         viii) Electronic conduction coatings.
         ix) Furnace elements.
         x) Inorganic optical coatings.

In CVD process, unstabilized ZrO2 can be formed by the reaction of the metal halide with CO2 and hydrogen at 900-1200 °C:

                  ZrCl4 + 2CO2 + 2H2 → ZrO2 + CO + 4HCl

In the case of heated FEGs (field emission guns), also called Schottky emitters, the tip of the tungsten wire is coated with ZrO2 (zirconium oxide) to raise electrical conductivity.

 

 

 

[1] R. H. J. Hannink, P. M. Kelly, B. C. Muddle, 2000Transformation toughening in zirconia- containing ceramics. J Am Ceram Soc, 833Mar, 2000) 4614871551-2916

 

 
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