Polymer-derived Er 3+ -doped La 2 Zr 2 O 7 nanocrystals: Synthesis,microstructure and photoluminescence

Abstract

La₂Zr₂O₇ nanocrystals doped with Er³⁺ were prepared from curing and pyrolysis of La₂Zr₂O₇ preceramic precursor modified by erbium acetylacetonate for the purpose of photoluminescence applications. The crystallisation behaviour, microstructure and photoluminescence of the generated ceramics were investigated. The nanocrystals derived from the precursor annealed at 900 °C for 2 h exhibit a single-phase solid solution with an average crystallite size of about 20 nm. The emission band centred at 528 nm was attributed to the ²H_11/2→⁴I_15/2 transition, while those at 550 and 562 nm were ascribed to the ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2 transition. The optimal molar ratio of Er³⁺/Zr⁴⁺ for max emission intensity was between 0.04 and 0.06.