Structural, magnetic and luminescent characteristics of Pr³⁺-doped ZrO₂powders synthesized by a sol–gel method

Abstract

The structural, magnetic and luminescence properties of praseodymium-doped zirconia powders of compositions Pr0.03Zr0.97O2 and Pr0.05Zr0.95O2 synthesized by a sol–gel process have been investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that these materials crystallize in a tetragonal fluorite-type structure. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the powders exhibit an agglomerated microcrystalline structure and the grain size may be in the order of 5–20 µm. The study of the magnetic properties of these doped metal oxides indicates a Curie–Weiss behaviour in the temperature range (100–300) K that allow us to estimate an effective magnetic moment of 3.51 μB, which indicates the presence of Pr3+ in the grown samples. Cathodoluminescence spectra recorded at temperatures between 85 and 295 K show emission peaks that can be attributed to transitions between different states within the 4f2 configuration of Pr3+ ions incorporated in the zirconia crystal lattice. Thermoluminescence measured at temperatures ranging from 373 to 773 K and at 550 nm wavelength show an intense and broad peak around 653 K for the Pr-doped zirconia which is not observed in the undoped material.

Correlation of luminescence measurements to the structural characterization of Pr3+-doped HfSiOx

“…It is worth noting that the major part of CL emission of Pr 3+ ions emanates from the de-excitation of the 3 P 0 state. This kind of emission has already been evidenced in other host matrices such as ZnO-SiO 2 or ZrO 2 , in which only the intensity of emission resulting from these transitions seems to vary [24][25][26].…”

Nanoparticulate Zirconia-Modified Solid Solutions of Aluminum-Iron Oxides for Polishing Titanium Metal

“…The monoclinic phase was retained when yttrium oleate was added in the ripening stage of monoclinic ZrO 2 . Therefore ion doping must occur during the ZrO 2 nucleation and growth stages [27][28][29][30][31][32].…”

Preparation and characterization of Ce0.95Zr0.05O2 nanopowders obtained by sol–gel and template methods

“…It should be pointed out that mesoporous and macroporous CeO 2 have also been synthesized previously [31e34]. On the other hand, to date and from our knowledge, whereas the TL response analysis of ceria based ceramics stabilized by oxides has been not analyzed, the luminescent response of zirconia based ceramics stabilized by oxides has attracted much interest and has been widely investigated, because its applications related to X ray diagnostics, beams of radiation and medicine [35,37].…”