Glycothermal synthesis of zirconia-rare earth oxide solid solutions

The reactions of mixtures of zirconium alkoxide and cerium or yttrium acetate in 1,4-butanediol at 300 degrees C (glycothermal reaction) yielded microcrystalline tetragonal zirconia-rare earth oxide solid solutions. The products maintained large surface areas even after calcination at high temperatures. The surface area of the products with low rare earth contents strongly depended on the drying conditions because of compaction at the drying stage, and the product dried by microwave irradiation had the highest surface area.