Synthesis of nanostructured zirconia by anodization at low potentials

Abstract

This work reports the synthesis of nanostructured ZrO2 by anodization of zirconium electrodes at potentials well below the range of 10–50 V used as a standard procedure. Zirconium was first anodized in a 1M (NH4)2SO4 electrolyte and then further anodized in the presence of fluoride ions added to the electrolyte as NH4F. The maximum potential applied to zirconium during the whole process was 1 V with respect to an Ag/AgCl (sat.) reference electrode. Amorphous films of ZrO2 consisting of nanopores and nanowire-like structures were produced with this low-potential methodology