Violet-blue photoluminescent properties of mesoporous zirconia modified with phosphoric acid

Two strong violet-blue luminescence emissions at 390 and 440 nm under excitation at room temperature have been observed in the ordered mesoporous zirconium oxide post-treated with phosphoric acid. The oxide was characterized by powder x-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence analysis, and time-resolved photoluminescence decay spectra. It is concluded that these photoluminescence responses are related to the presence of P–O–Zr lumophores in tetrapodal framework due to the post-treatment with phosphoric acid, and are also related to the defects of oxygen vacancies in the mesoporous zirconia itself. The significant optical properties of this material may be very interesting for further application.