Large-size and high-quality stable ZrO 2 single crystals containing x mol % Yb 2 O 3 (x = 7, 8, 9, 10) (denoted as xYbSZ), and 8YbSZ crystals doped with 0.5 mol % Er 2 O 3 were grown by the optical floating zone (OFZ) method. Yb 3+ was indicated by XRD and Raman spectroscopy to have successfully entered into the ZrO 2 lattice, which was stabilized in the cubic phase when the concentration of Yb 2 O 3 was ≥8 mol %. Er 3+ successfully entered the 8YbSZ lattice, and its spectral absorption intensity was enhanced compared to Er 3+ in the corresponding yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ), thus demonstrating that the Yb 3+ ion has an excellent sensitizing effect on the up-conversion luminescence of Er 3+ . Fluorescence decay curves show that the up-conversion luminescence excited state lifetime of Er 3+ is significantly enhanced in 8YbSZ compared to 8YSZ. Thus, these results demonstrate that Yb 3+ ions not only successfully stabilize ZrO 2 in the cubic phase structure but also maintain their role as an up-conversion luminescence sensitizer for Er 3+ ions.

A series of yttria-stabilized zirconia single-crystals doped with 0.000–0.250 mol% Tb4O7 was prepared by the optical floating-zone method. As shown by XRD and Raman spectroscopy, all of the crystals had a cubic-phase structure. These were initially orange–yellow in color, which is indicative of the presence of Tb4+ ions, but they then became colorless after being annealed in a H2/Ar atmosphere as a result of the reduction of Tb4+ to Tb3+. The absorption spectra of the unannealed samples show both the 4f 8→4f 75d1 transition of Tb3+ ions and the Tb4+ charge-transfer band. In addition, the transmittance of the crystals was increased by annealing. Under irradiation with 300 nm of light, all of the single-crystal samples showed seven emission peaks in the visible region, corresponding to the decay from the 5D3,4 excited state of Tb3+ to the 7FJ (J = 6–0) states. The most intense emission was at 544 nm, which corresponds to the typical strong green emission from the 5D4→7F5 transition in Tb3+ ions.

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The optical properties of the Eu3+-doped Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 crystals demonstrate potential for various applications based on their intense emission of orange light.