Synthesis and characterization of calcium zirconate nanofibers produced by electrospinning

Abstract Calcium zirconate fibers were produced by electrospinning and characterized in this work. The solution was prepared from zirconium and calcium salts, using polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) as processing aid. The decomposition of the organic fraction and crystallization of calcium zirconate were followed by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC). Raman Spectroscopy was used to measure the vibrational modes in the green as well as in the calcined fibers. The final phase composition was studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). The fiber morphology was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation reaction of calcium zirconate was observed at about 740 °C. Highly crystalline fibers were obtained already at 800 °C, but the crystallinity and calcium zirconate yield improved when the temperature was increased to 1000 °C.