Thermally stimulated luminescence of oxygen-deficient zirconia nanotubes

ZrO2 nanotubular arrays with intrinsic defects are a promising solid-state basis for the development of devices for detecting, storing, and converting energy. Layers of the self-ordered zirconia nanotubes of 5 μm length and 30 nm diameter, containing oxygen vacancies and their complexes, have been synthesized by anodic oxidation. The spectrally resolved TSL (thermally stimulated luminescence) above room temperature for the samples exposed by UV-irradiation with an energy of 4.1 eV have been studied. Two emission bands with maxima near 2.5 and 2.8 eV, associated with radiative relaxation of T and F+ centers, respectively, have been found. An analysis of the measured glow curves within the framework of general order kinetics established the presence of four TSL peaks caused by charge carriers traps with activation energies of 0.7–0.8 eV. A band diagram is proposed to explain the role of optically active centers based on electron (vacancies in positions of three- and four-coordinated oxygen) and hole (interstitial oxygen ions) traps in observed TSL processes during the irradiation and the followed heating of anion-deficient ZrO2 nanotubes. [Display omitted] •Spectrally resolved TSL in UV-irradiated zirconia nanotubes has been studied.•Four overlapping TSL peaks in diapason of 300–500 K have been observed.•Detected 2.5 and 2.8 eV emissions were caused by T- and F+-centers, respectively.•Activation energies in 0.7–0.8 eV range for active traps have been estimated.•Band diagram of TSL processes in oxygen-deficient ZrO2 nanotubes has been proposed.