Swift heavy ion induced phase transformation and thermoluminescence properties of zirconium oxide

Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) powder is synthesized by combustion technique. XRD pattern of ZrO2 shows monoclinic phase with average crystallite size 35 nm. Pellets of ZrO2 are irradiated with 100 MeV swift Si7+, Ni7+ and 120 MeV swift Ag9+ ions in the fluence range 3 × 1010–3 × 1013 ions cm−2. XRD pattern show the main diffraction peak correspond to monoclinic and tetragonal phase of ZrO2 in 2θ range 27–33°. Structural phase transformation is observed for Ni7+ and Ag9+ ion irradiated samples at a fluence 1 × 1013 ions cm−2 and 3 × 1012 ions cm−2 respectively, since the deposited electronic energy loss exceeds an effective threshold (>12 keV nm−1). Phase transition induced by Ag9+ ion is nearly 2.9 times faster than Ni7+ ion at 1 × 1013 ions cm−2. Ag9+ ion irradiation leads two ion impact processes. Thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves exhibit two glows, a well resolved peak at ∼424 K and unresolved peak at 550 K for all SHI irradiated samples. TL response is decreased with increase of ion fluence. Beyond 3 × 1012 ions cm−2, samples don’t exhibit TL due to annihilation of defects.