Opto-structural Properties of Thermally Treated Zirconia Nanoparticles

In this study, zirconia nanoparticles wereprepared throughsol–gel/ spin coating technique using zirconium oxychloride octahydrate as precursor. The prepared gels/thin films were dried at 100 ⁰C for 24h. Powdered samples and thin films of ZrO₂were heat treated at 550 and 850 0C for 3h. Structural, microstructural, optical, luminescent and thermal properties ofsynthesized samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence spectroscopy and Thermo-gravimetric analysis. XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies confirmed the presence of both phases i.e tetragonal as well as monoclinic in the prepared samples. Optical band gap of prepared thin films was increased with thermal treatment. PL results revealed a broad band obtained in blue region of EM spectra. Thermal decomposition confirmed the formation of crystalline zirconia nanoparticles.