Nanostructured crystals of partially yttria-stabilized and Nd super(3+) doped zirconia: Structure and luminescent properties

The structure and luminescent characteristics of partially yttria-stabilized zirconia (PSZ) doped with Nd super(3+) ions were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data for PSZ crystals containing 2.8 mol.% and 3.7 mol.% Y sub(2)O sub(3) doped with Nd sub(2)O sub(3) (0.04, 0.22 and 0.34 mol.%) and containing 2.0 mol.% Y sub(2)O sub(3) doped with 0.8 mol.% Nd sub(2)O sub(3) indicated the presence of a nanosize twin domain structure. This structure becomes more homogeneous and dispersed as the total concentrations of the stabilizing oxides (Y sub(2)O sub(3) and Nd sub(2)O sub(3)) increases. A comparison of the luminescence spectra and X-ray phase analysis results for the PSZ crystals containing 2.8 and 3.7 mol.% Y sub(2)O sub(3) with different Nd sub(2)O sub(3) concentrations (0.04, 0.22 and 0.34 mol.%) indicated that the Nd super(3+) ions were predominantly concentrated in the non-transformable t' phase. The luminescence spectra of Nd super(3+) centres in these crystals were similar to those of yttrium-stabilized cubic zirconia. In the 0.8Nd sub(2)O sub(3)-2.0YSZ crystal the quantity of the non-transformable T phase is low, therefore the Nd super(3+) ions are contained in the transformable t phase. The luminescence spectra of Nd super(3+) ions occupying transformable t phase in 0.8Nd sub(2)O sub(3)-2.0YSZ crystal differs from the luminescence spectra of Nd super(3+) ions in stabilized cubic zirconia.