Microwave-Driven Hydrothermal Synthesis of Oxide Nanopowders for Applications in Optoelectronics

Europium doped zirconia luminescence

Abstract The luminescence properties and crystalline structure of ZrO2:Eu nanocrystals doped with different concentrations of Eu were studied. Luminescence from the Eu2+ state was not observed even if the electrons and holes were created up to ∼1019 cm−3; thus it was suggested the Eu3+ was not an efficient trap for electrons possibly due to Eu3+ negative charge relative to the crystalline lattice. The mutual interaction between Eu3+ ions was not strong up to 5 at.% concentration. The stabilization of ZrO2 tetragonal as well as cubic structure by Eu3+ is possible.

Luminescence of ZrO<sub>2</sub> Nanocrystals

The luminescence of nanocrystalline tetragonal and cubic ZrO2 has been investigated. The tetragonal undoped ZrO2 revealed two luminescence bands, at ~2.0 eV and 2.7 eV , but only one band at ~2.7 eV was observed from cubic ZrO2. This luminescence was shown to be intrinsic. The regular zirconium-oxygen complex excited state is suggested as being responsible for intrinsic luminescence.

Luminescence of Nanosized ZrO<sub>2</sub> and ZrO<sub>2</sub>: Pr Powders