‘Hydroxide’ precursor to zirconia: extended X-ray absorption fine structure study

Abstract

The short-range structure of zirconium hydroxide, an amorphous precursor in the synthesis of zirconia-based ceramics, is considered. New EXAFS data are combined with existing chemical information on this hydroxide to produce a structural model based on two-dimensional linking of tetrameric units involving a combination of both hydroxo- and oxo-bonds and bound water molecules.