High-strength, thermal-stable ZrO2 aerogel from polyacetylacetonatozirconium.

Graphical abstract Highlights • Polyacetylacetonatozirconium (PAZ) was used as precursor to synthesize ZrO 2 aerogel. • PAZ-ZrO 2 aerogel performed a compressive strength of 0.23 MPa and 20 ~ 25% strain. • The SSA (PV) of PAZ-ZrO 2 aerogel was 236 m2/g (1.568 cm3/g) after 1000 °C heat-treatment. Abstract Polyacetylacetonatozirconium was used as the precursor to synthesize ZrO 2 aerogel (PAZ-ZrO 2). The physical properties of the aerogel were compared with those generated from zirconyl chloride (ZOC-ZrO 2) and zirconyl nitrate (ZON-ZrO 2). PAZ-ZrO 2 aerogel has higher compressive strength (0.12–0.23 MPa) with lower density (0.12 ± 0.005 g/cm3) as compared to ZOC-ZrO 2 and ZON-ZrO 2 aerogel, of which the mechanical strengths are in the range of 0.02–0.15 MPa and the density of 0.13–0.17 g/cm3. After being treated at 1000 °C, the surface area (pore volume) of ZOC-ZrO 2 , ZON-ZrO 2 and PAZ-ZrO 2 aerogel are 210 m2/g (1.299 cm3/g), 223 m2/g (0.444 cm3/g) and 236 m2/g (1.568 cm3/g) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]