Proton and electron irradiation induced changes in the optical properties of ZnO pigments modified with ZrO2 and Al2O3 nanopowders

The effect of the modification of ZnO powders by ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles with a concentration of 1–30 wt % is investigated by diffuse reflectance spectra within the wavelength range 0.2 to 2.5 μm before and after 100 keV proton and electron irradiation. It has been established that the introduction of nanoparticles enhances the optical stability of the pigments under proton irradiation, but reduces it under electron irradiation. Samples modified by 5 wt % of ZrO₂ nanoparticles have the highest stability of optical properties after proton exposure. The degradation of optical properties under electron irradiation is not high for this concentration of nanoparticles. A decrease in the absorption of pigments modified with nanoparticles after proton exposure is determined by a decrease in the intensity of bands located in the UV and visible regions. After electron exposure the absorption bands have a high intensity in the whole spectrum range.