SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF ER-3+ IN STABILIZED ZIRCONIA SINGLE-CRYSTALS

Erbium-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) single crystals of 84ZrO2/16YO1.5 composition have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical absorption and photoemission techniques at temperatures between 10 and 680 K. At 10 K the Stark-structure of the 4I15/2 and 4S3/2 multiplets has been resolved and it corresponds to a statistical distribution of nearly-cubic octocoordinated (CN8) and trigonal hepta-coordinated (CN7) Er3+ ions. The 300 K spectroscopic properties are studied in the frame of the Judd-Ofelt theory. From the calculated radiative transition probabilities and the measured lifetimes we have determined the non-radiative transition rates and luminescence efficiencies, and compared them with previous results using YSZ of a different composition. The influence of the matrix composition on the spectroscopic characteristics of the Er3+ ion is discussed.