Stabilization of tetragonal phase in ZrO2:Eu by rapid thermal heating

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2011.09.004
• Publication Date: 2011-09-09T03:10:52Z
• Authors: Ray Gunawidjaja; Thandar Myint; Hergen Eilers
• Keywords: Tetragonal crystal system; Monoclinic crystal system; Europium

Abstract Europium-doped Zr(OH) 4 nanoparticles are heated via furnace and pyroprobe. As observed in X-ray diffraction and optical fluorescence spectroscopy, both heating techniques lead to mixed tetragonal and monoclinic crystalline ZrO 2 phases. Three hours of heating in the furnace leads to 45% tetragonal phase at 400 °C and only 14% at 700 °C. Rapid 10 s heating in the pyroprobe, however, leads up to 68% tetragonal phase for temperatures between 570 and 710 °C. Incomplete dehydroxylation of the precursor may lead to the stabilization of the tetragonal phase.