Refractory and chemically inert nanoparticulate solids like yttria, yttrium aluminium garnet or lutetium aluminium garnet are notoriously difficult to disperse in aqueous solution, although such dispersions might prove useful for 2D- and 3D-printing, deposition of films or other shaping procedures for ceramic green bodies. This work reports on experiments to prepare such dispersions from nanopowders, using a range of selected carboxylic acids as ligands for electrostatic charging and stabilization of the various nanomaterials. The assessment of the system properties achieved combines ζ-potential and viscosity (flow curve) measurements in the resulting colloidal systems. Calculations of the molecular electrostatic potential of the ligands were used to correlate the molecular structure of the ligands and their capability to dock to the surface of the solid particles. The colloid chemical data received have then been interpreted on this background; citric acid and polyacrylic acid have been identified as the most attractive dispersants.
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