Structural and optical characterizations of zircon and zirconia nanopowders derived from zircon sands

This study explores the structural and optical properties of zircon (ZrSiO₄) and zirconia (ZrO₂) nanopowders using two types of natural Indonesian zircon sands. The former powders were synthesized through dissolution and non-dissolution methods, while the latter powders were synthesized using alkali fusion and co-precipitation techniques. x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealed a reduction in impurities post-synthesis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses indicated that the dissolution process yielded pure zircon, whereas the non-dissolution method resulted in the presence of minor additional phases. For zirconia, all samples exhibited a tetragonal phase, albeit with varying structures. Optical properties were investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy, which showed that both materials exhibit high absorption in the ultraviolet region, with slight differences in wavelengths peak. Consequently, zircon and zirconia demonstrated similar band gap energies ranging from 3.76 to 3.95 eV and 3.99 to 4.06 eV, respectively. Photoluminescence testing further revealed identical emission peaks 350 nm for both materials, highlighting their comparable optical characteristics. This study provides valuable understandings into the synthesis and optical properties of zircon and zirconia nanopowders derived from Indonesian zircon sands, emphasizing their potential applications in various optical and electronic fields.