Blue-emitting yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia nanoparticles capped by PVA

▶ Zirconia nanoparticles capped by PVA emit a near-band-edge photoluminescence centered at 428 nm. ▶ The emission is enhanced in solid PVA matrix. ▶ The emission decreases with an increasing temperature of the nanoparticle solution. ▶ The emission mechanism is assigned to the good surface passivation of the nanoparticles by the PVA molecules.