Photoluminescence-spectra study of yttria-stabilized zirconia

Spectral analyses of photoluminescence of yttriastabilized zirconia single crystals are carried out in the temperature range from 90 K to 330 K. Over the whole temperature range the emission spectrum can be decomposed into two broad bands. The main band is centred in the yellow-orange region of the spectrum and the secondary in the green region. The temperature dependence of the emission spectrum is tentatively analyzed in terms of the first three moments of the two band shapes. In addition, thermal quenching energy is determined to be 0.10 eV for both the yellow-orange and green bands. Results are discussed on basis of the major defects, oxygen vacancies and complexes formed by associating with the Y³⁺ ions.