Fabrication and Characterization of ZrO2 Hollow Spheres

Zirconium dioxide hollow microspheres were prepared using carbonaceous polysaccharide microspheres as a template through a heterogeneously nucleating wrapping technique. Firstly, carbonaceous microspheres wrapped by ZrO2 were synthesized, and then the obtained precursor was calcinated at 800 degrees C for 2 hours to remove the template. Based on SEM, TEM and EDS analysis, the microstructure, composition and thermal decomposition process of the precursor as well as the final products were investigated. The forrnation mechanisms of the core-shell structure precursor and the hollow microspheres were also discussed.