Properties of ZrO2 and Ag-ZrO2 nanopowders prepared by pulsed electron beam evaporation

ZrO2 and Ag doped ZrO2 powders were prepared from mixtures of ZrO2 and AgNO3 commercial powders (99:1 and 95:5 wt %) by pulsed electron beam evaporation (PEBE) in vacuum. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), textural and magnetic analysis, photocatalytic test, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and cell cytology (Vero and Hela). XRD analysis confirmed the presence of monoclinic ZrO2 phase and cubic Ag phase in the final product. HRTEM pictures showed a large range of particle sizes approximately from 10 to 500 nm; the spherical silver nanoparticles (NPles) (10 nm) were observed on the ZrO2 particle surfaces. Ferromagnetic contribution in pure ZrO2 powder was 0,002 emu/g, and in Ag doped ZrO2 powders it reached 0,016 emu/g. It was found that Ag doped ZrO2 powders showed increased photocatalytic activity in methyl orange (MO) compared with pure ZrO2 NPles. The produced powders can be used to kill Hela cancer cells, as low (<0.1 wt) Ag photocatalysts and in other applications.