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

ZrO 2 and Ag doped ZrO 2 powders were prepared from mixtures of ZrO 2 and AgNO 3 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 ZrO 2 phase and cubic Ag phase in the final product. НRTEM 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 ZrO 2 particle surfaces. Ferromagnetic contribution in pure ZrO 2 powder was 0,002 emu/g, and in Ag doped ZrO 2 powders it reached 0,016 emu/g. It was found that Ag doped ZrO 2 powders showed increased photocatalytic activity in methyl orange (MO) compared with pure ZrO 2 NPles. The produced powders can be used to kill Hela cancer cells, as low (<0.1 wt) Ag photocatalysts and in other applications.