Dispersions of Zirconia Nanoparticles Close to the Phase Boundary of Surfactant-Free Ternary Mixtures

The achievement of a homogeneous dispersion nanoparticles is paramount importance in supporting their technological application. In wet processing, stable dispersions were largely obtained via surfactant or surface functionalization: although effective, the use dispersant can alter, even impair, functional properties resulting nanostructured systems. Herein, we report novel integrated modeling and experimental approach to obtain ZrO2 nanoparticle (NP) at native dimensions (about 5 nm) ternary mixtures solvents (i.e., water, ethanol, 1,2-dichlorobenzene) without any further functionalization. A miscibility diagram was computed exploiting universal quasi-chemical functional-group activity coefficient (UNIFAC) model, which then experimentally validated. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) on these highlights that nanometric structures, resembling nanoemulsion droplets, form close mixture two-phase boundary, with size depends composition. ZrO2–NPs synthesized following classic sol–gel characterized by XRD Raman spectroscopy. dispersed HCl mixed different ethanol 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB), obtaining dispersions. These studied means DLS as function DCB concentration, observing be when mass fraction lower than 60%, whereas increase hydrophobic solvent leads NPs’ agglomeration sedimentation. proposed not only offers specific guidelines for design but also extended other complex order achieve no