Structure and optical properties of Sm-doped ZrO2 microrolls

In the frame of the current work novel set of Sm-doped zirconia (ZrO2) microrolls were composed by using specially modified sol-gel technique followed by annealing cycle from 500 °C to 800 °C. Via Raman and XRD scattering of zirconia as well as the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the samarium ions the crystal phase formation was monitored and characterised qualitatively. The microrolls are shown first to form tetragonal phase which is stabilised by Sm ions, residual organic dopants and shear forces acting on the bent surface. The microrolls go through phase transformation to monoclinic as the annealing temperature is increased leading to partial breakup of the macroscopic structure.