This study aims to describe the synthesis and optical characterization of a nanometric zirconium oxide solid solution containing yttrium and lanthanum. Zirconium citrate, yttrium nitrate and lanthanum nitrate were mixed in the ratios: 94 mol% of ZrO2 - 6 mol% of Y2O3 and 92 mol% of ZrO2 - 6 mol % of Y2O3 - 2 mol % of La2O3. FTIR analysis shows organic material in decomposition and thermal analysis shows the transformation from the tetragonal to the monoclinic phase of zirconia, the loss of water molecule and zirconium dehydroxylation. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows a homogeneous phase formation of ZrO2-Y2O3-La2O3 demonstrating that lanthanum addition does not cause phase formation, promoting a solid solution based on zirconia with cubic structure. The photoluminescence spectra show absorption bands at 562 nm and 572 nm (350 °C) and specific absorption bands at 543 nm, 561 nm, 614 nm and 641 nm (900 °C). The photoluminescence effect at low temperature is caused by defects such as (Y Zr,Y O)', (2Y Zr,V O)'' and V O. Emissions at 614 nm and 641 nm are caused by O-2p -> Zr-4d transition. An emission at 543 nm can be attributed to LaO8 centers with O-2p -> La-5d transition.
photoluminescence; yttria-stabilized zirconia; Pechini method
