LAUSR

Abstract Polyacetylacetonatozirconium was used as the precursor to synthesize ZrO2 aerogel (PAZ-ZrO2). The physical properties of the aerogel were compared with those generated from zirconyl chloride (ZOC-ZrO2) and zirconyl nitrate (ZON-ZrO2). PAZ-ZrO2 aerogel has higher compressive strength (0.12–0.23 MPa) with lower density (0.12 ± 0.005 g/cm3) as compared to ZOC-ZrO2 and ZON-ZrO2 aerogel, of which the mechanical strengths are in the range of 0.02–0.15 MPa and the density of 0.13–0.17 g/cm3. After being treated at 1000 °C, the surface area (pore volume) of ZOC-ZrO2, ZON-ZrO2 and PAZ-ZrO2 aerogel are 210 m2/g (1.299 cm3/g), 223 m2/g (0.444 cm3/g) and 236 m2/g (1.568 cm3/g) respectively.