Photoluminescence excitation bands corresponding to defect states due to oxygen vacancies in yttria-stabilized zirconia

Abstract

We have investigated the relationship between the structure of the photoluminescence (PL) excitation bands from yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and the defect states caused by oxygen vacancies in YSZ. The PL excitation spectra of YSZ samples with 2–8 mol% Y 2O 3 concentrations were measured at room temperature, and PL excitation bands from the YSZ samples were observed around 240 and 280 nm. We found a linear relationship between the intensity of the PL excitation band at 241 nm and the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the YSZ samples. The concentration of the oxygen vacancies could be estimated from this linear relationship. Moreover, we found that the PL excitation bands around 240 and 280 nm can be attributed to the bulk and local states of oxygen vacancies in the YSZ samples, respectively.