Advanced nanocrystalline ZrO2 for optical oxygen sensors

It was shown that ZrO2 nanopowders and nanoceramics can be used as an optical oxygen sensor, where the luminescence signal is proportional to the partial oxygen pressure in gases. The nanopowders were obtained in a hydrothermal microwave driven process followed by annealing at 750°C. Nanoceramics were obtained by sintering at pressures up to 6 GPa and at 250°C so that grain growth did not occur. Luminescence of both materials depends linearly on the oxygen content in nitrogen-oxygen mixtures for 2.1% - 25 vol% oxygen content. For luminescence excitation using an electron beam, the luminescence intensity decreases as oxygen pressure increases. For excitation with a laser beam, the opposite effect is observed - the lower the oxygen pressure, the lower the luminescence signal. The experimental results are explained in terms of luminescence centers being distorted lattice sites close to vacancies.

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