The paper presents the results of experiments on obtaining functional materials (piezoceramics, catalysts, heat-resistant coatings) based on zirconium oxide. It is shown that zirconium oxynitrate, obtained in the process of extraction separation of zirconium and hafnium, has a low content of impurities determining the quality of products based on zirconium oxide. The method of homogeneous deposition of stoichiometric zirconium compounds with alloying additives provided homogeneous salt systems for functional ceramics. The high homogeneity of the material and its physicochemical and mechanical properties allowed to obtain powders at much lower temperatures than solid-phase synthesis, providing high-quality products at low energy consumption.