Correlation between zeta potential and electron paramagnetic resonance of thulium, europium co-doped yttria based suspensions

The formation of advanced ceramic components with homogeneous microstructure and functional characteristics demands a suitable control of particle dispersion. Thus, the characterization of particle stability as immersed in a liquid medium is important. The present paper reports an approach to evaluate the stability of europium, thulium co-doped yttria (YET) nanoparticles by a correlation between zeta potential and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) techniques. Based on results, YET suspensions exhibited high stability apart from pH 10, while their isoelectric point presented a slight variation from pHIEP 8.5 to 9.2 according to thulium content 0 and 2 at.%, respectively. The peak-to-peak amplitude of EPR spectra of the YET suspensions increased as pH shifted toward alkaline condition, following zeta potential curves features. The present achievements are very useful parameters to form stable suspensions based on rare-earth oxides and to advance toward new materials for radiation dosimetry. [Display omitted] •Tm, Eu co-doped yttria (YET) particles were evaluated by zeta potential (ζ) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).•Tm content induces changes in surface chemistry of particles and EPR spectra.•The isoelectric point of YET compositions varied from pHIEP 8.5 to pHIEP 9.2.•YET suspensions are highly stable at pH 10.5 (ζ > 20 mV).•The mean EPR peak of YET suspensions were recorded between 160 and 165 mT.•Peak-to-peak amplitude ofYET suspensions are in accordance with zeta results.•YET suspensions exhibited slight variation g-values from 4.380 to 4.335.•EPR measurement results corroborated zeta potential findings.