Local atomic structure in tetragonal pure ZrO₂ nanopowders

The local atomic order of nanocrystalline pure ZrO₂ powders exhibiting the tetragonal phase, synthesized by different wet-chemical routes, has been investigated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). It was found that the crystallographic model widely accepted for the tetragonal phase does not fit the EXAFS data and, thus, alternative models were explored.