Thermal recovery of colour centres induced in cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia by charged particle irradiations

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter Vol. 18; no. 15; pp. 3671 - 3682
• Main Authors: Costantini, Jean-Marc, Beuneu, François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 19.04.2006; Institute of Physics; IOP Publishing [1989-....]
• Subjects: Condensed Matter; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Electron paramagnetic resonance and relaxation; Exact sciences and technology; Insulators; Magnetic resonances and relaxations in condensed matter, mössbauer effect; Materials Science; Physics; Radiation effects on specific materials; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Radiation effects; Cubic lattices; Paramagnetic center; Fluence; Isothermal annealing; Stabilized zirconia; Color centers; Ion beams; Local structure; Monocrystals; Electron beams; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Kinetic theory; color centers; zirconia; recovery; irradiation
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/18/15/013

We have used electron paramagnetic resonance to study the thermal annealing of colour centres induced in cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia by swift electron and heavy ion irradiations. Single crystals were irradiated with 1 or 2 MeV electrons, and 200 MeV 127I or 200 MeV 197Au ions. Electron and ion beams produce the same colour centres, namely (i) an F+-like centre, (ii) the so-called T-centre (Zr3+ in a trigonal oxygen local environment), and (iii) a hole centre. Isochronal annealing was performed up to 973 K. Isothermal annealing was performed at various temperatures on samples irradiated with 2 MeV electrons. The stability of paramagnetic centres increases with fluence and with a treatment at 1373 K under vacuum prior to the irradiations.