STRUCTURE AND LUMINESCENCE OF EU-ACTIVATED ZIRCONIUM HYDROXIDE AND DIOXIDE AT RELATIVELY LOW-TEMPERATURES

Luminescent materials with composition ZrO2:0.01 Eu were prepared by co-precipitation of zirconium and europium hydroxides and subsequent thermal decomposition at relatively low temperatures. A stabilization of tetragonal ZrO2 prepared on this way is found. The structure of the prepared samples was investigated. The luminescence spectra of tetragonal and of monoclinic ZrO2 . 0.01 Eu and of ZrO2 . n H2O:0.01 Eu by excitation at 254 nm and at 365 nm are presented.