Aerogels and xerogels based on sulphated zirconia doped with nickel in the same atomic ratios S/Zr = 0.5 and Ni/Zr = 0.1 have been synthesized by solgel method using two drying ways of the solvent in solid preparation steps. Aerogels obtained by drying in supercritical conditions of solvent stabilize zirconia tetragonal phase even at high calcination temperatures and present a developed surface area, whereas xerogels obtained by ordinary solvent drying in an oven are amorphous. TPR and XPS studies revealed that Ni seems to exist in different species in the two kinds of solids and it is more reducible in aerogels.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.