Nanocrystalline pure cubic zirconia was prepared by precipitation in polyme
r matrix. The average particle size obtained by this method was smaller tha
n that obtained by aqueous coprecipitation. X-ray diffraction showed that t
he cubic form is stable in air up to 1173 K and partially stable in an iner
t argon atmosphere up to 1273 K. The stability of the cubic phase of ZrO2 a
t such high temperatures was due to the presence of surface and bulk oxygen
vacancies present in the nanocrystalline samples. Polymer decomposition du
ring calcination increased oxygen vacancies already present in the nanocrys
talline samples. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.