Photoluminescent spectroscopy measurements in nanocrystalline praseodymium doped zirconia powders

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 39; no. 10; pp. 2079 - 2083
• Main Authors: Ramos-Brito, F, Murrieta S, H, Hernández A, J, Camarillo, E, García-Hipólito, M, Martínez-Martínez, R, Álvarez-Fragoso, O, Falcony, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 21.05.2006; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Annealing; Interband transitions; Doping; Photoluminescence; XRD; Excited states; Energy-level transitions; Zirconium oxides; Praseodymium additions; Excitation spectrum; Microstructure; Charge transfer; Energy transfer; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/39/10/016

Praseodymium doped zirconia powder (ZrO2: (0.53 at%) Pr3+) was prepared by a co-precipitation technique and annealed in air at a temperature Ta = 950 deg C. The x-ray diffraction pattern shows a nanocrystalline structure composed of 29.6% monoclinic and 70.4% cubic-tetragonal phases. Medium infrared and Raman analysis confirms the monoclinic/cubic-tetragonal crystalline structure and proves the absence of praseodymium aggregates in the material. Photoluminescent spectroscopy over excitations of 457.9 and 514.9 nm (at 20 K), shows two emission spectra composed of many narrow peaks in the visible-near infrared region (VIS-NIR) of the electromagnetic spectrum, associated with 4f inter-level electronic transitions in praseodymium ions incorporated in the zirconia. Excitation and emission spectra show the different mechanisms of the direct and non-direct excitation of the dopant ion (Pr3+), and the preferential relaxation of the material by charge transfer from the host (zirconia) to the 4f5d band and the 4f inter-level of the dopant ion (Pr3+). No evidence of energy transfer from the host to the dopant was observed.