Preparation of Zirconium Diboride Nanopowders Using Different Zirconium Sources via Sol-Gel Method

Zirconium diboride nanopowders were synthesized by sol–gel method using different zirconium sources of zirconium carbonate and zirconium nitrate based on different gelling processing. Both of zirconium source can be applied in the synthesis of good performance ZrB2 powders while the in-suit sol-gel using zirconium carbonate tend to form the spherical ZrB2 powders about 50nm and the traditional sol-gel using zirconium nitrate prefer to form worm ZrB2 powders about 200nm. The influences of B/Zr molar ration of zirconium carbonate and zirconium nitrate of sol-gel method on the phase constitution was investigated. And the gel mechanism was discussed to explain the different phase constitution, morphology of final products.