Influence of Zr-doping on the luminescence properties of ceria nanocrystals

In the paper the influence of partial substitution of cerium ions by zirconium ones on the processes of the formation of oxygen vacancies in mixed ceria-zirconia (CeO
2
-ZrO
2
) nanocrystals was investigated using conventional spectroscopic techniques. It was shown that the intensity of Ce
³⁺
luminescence band which depends on the concentration of oxygen vacancies in ceria nanocrystal increases strongly at incorporation of Zr
⁴⁺
ions with concentrations up to 20 at.% confirming the supposition that replacing of the part of Ce
⁴⁺
ions by Zr
⁴⁺
ones provokes formation of additional oxygen vacancies in ceria structure.