Europium doped zirconia luminescence

The luminescence properties and crystalline structure of ZrO2:Eu nanocrystals doped with different concentrations of Eu were studied. Luminescence from the Eu2+ state was not observed even if the electrons and holes were created up to ∼1019 cm−3; thus it was suggested the Eu3+ was not an efficient trap for electrons possibly due to Eu3+ negative charge relative to the crystalline lattice. The mutual interaction between Eu3+ ions was not strong up to 5 at.% concentration. The stabilization of ZrO2 tetragonal as well as cubic structure by Eu3+ is possible.