Preparation and characterization of ZrO2 nanoparticles capped by trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO)

Monodisperse ZrO 2 nanoparticles capped by trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) were prepared in non-aqueous solvent using in-situ synthesis method. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA) were adopted to characterize and investigate the size, structure, composition, and the binding manners between organic capping agent TOPO and inorganic ZrO 2 nanocores of the as-prepared nanoparticles. In addition, the nanoparticles were also studied to determine their solubility and relative stability. The experimental results show that the prepared nanoparticles contain about 25% organic capping shell TOPO, 75% inorganic ZrO 2 nanocores, and can be easily dissolved and be stably disersed in nonpolar organic solvents.