Properties of Eu3+-doped zirconia ceramics synthesized under spherical shock waves and vacuum annealing

The work is dedicated to the study of the phase stability of (Zr, Hf, Y, Eu)Ox ceramics with the calculated formula Zr0.41Hf0.41Y0.09Eu0.09O1.91 synthesized by the co-precipitation method and subjected to detonation in spherical shock waves and vacuum annealing at 1700 °C. The phase composition of the starting precursor and ceramic samples was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. To analyze the local structure of samples, the method of rare-earth ion spectroscopy was applied with the use of the local cathodoluminescence technique. It was demonstrated that detonation in spherical shock waves leads to a decrease of residual monoclinic phase in ceramics, and vacuum annealing leads to its complete disappearance. The significant changes in the phase composition of ceramics after the impact of high temperature in vacuum and high pressure under spherical shock waves are not observed. Such materials can be used as stable matrices for actinide immobilization or advanced luminescence materials to be applied under extreme conditions. •ZrO2-based ceramics subjected to the impact of extreme conditions was investigated.•Cathodoluminescence method was used for identification of Eu3+ ions local symmetry.•The phase composition of ceramics did not change significantly after detonation.•Stability of ceramics allows using it as stable radionuclide immobilization matrix.•Such ceramics can also be used as advanced luminescence materials matrix.