Nanocrystalline ZrO2 powder was prepared through a chemical route via a reaction between a soluble salt within an organic template in various ratios at a carbonization temperature of 200 degrees C. The homogenization of the nanopowder was assisted by milling the charcoal precursor in a non polar solvent for 24 hours, followed by calcining at 800 degrees C and 1100 degrees C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results show that zirconia nanopowder produced has crystallite sizes of about 26-31 nm and 46-50 nm whose major crystal phase is m-ZrO2 for calcinations at 800 degrees C and 1100 degrees C, respectively. Increasing the organic template concentration reduced the particle and crystallite size, while the elevation of the calcination temperature enlarges the particle and crystallite size.
