Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles obtained by arc deposition at low pressure with variable oxygen content in the gas mixture are investigated in the study. The phase composition, structural characteristics, and chemical state of zirconium in the samples are confirmed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance. The modification of the phase composition of samples, which is accompanied by a change in photoluminescent properties, is discussed. Nanopowder of ZrO2 in the tetragonal phase exhibits intense luminescence (λmax = 417 nm) when excited by light with a wavelength of 270 nm. As the phase composition of the nanoparticles changes to the prevailing monoclinic modification, the broad peak in the PL spectra is replaced by three distinct peaks at 376, 407, and 479 nm. For all samples, the nature of the radiation is related to the impurity states in the band gap. New energy levels are formed by oxygen vacancies and surface defects.
Fedorov et al. (Sun,) studied this question.