Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized in the current study using Co-precipitation technique. The Zirconium (IV) oxynitrate hydrate (ZrN2O7.xH2O) aqueous solution was treated by adding ammonia solution at ambient temperature to produce Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles. And addition of barium in two different weight percentage also produced barium doped Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles. Some characterization methods were used to examine the synthesized nanoparticles. The structural, morphological, optical, electrochemical and catalytic properties of the prepared samples were studied. XRD analysis of synthesized ZrO2 nanoparticles revealed that they are tetragonal in structure. Their crystallite sizes are increased first then decreased when increasing doping concentration. From SEM images, the surface morphology of synthesized nanoparticlesare observed as spherical and some irregular clusters. EDAX spectrashow the presence of Zr, O and Ba elements with high purity in the prepared nanoparticles. From UV studies, the cutoff wavelength is obtained from the absorption spectra. FromTauc’s plot the band gap energies were calculated in increasing order. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of tetragonalZrO2. The formation of tetragonal structure of ZrO2 is confirmed by the peak obtained in Raman spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectra provide evidence of defects and the charge carrier recombination process. Increasing intensity shows the increasing recombination process. In photocatalytic activities, the excess amount of charge carrier increases the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye when barium doping concentration is increased.

Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized in the current study using Co-precipitation technique.