Variation in the EPR characteristics of nanosized zirconia particles under exposure to X-ray radiation and annealing in hydrogen

The effects of various external factors on the properties of nanosized zirconia particles are studied using electron paramagnetic resonance. It is shown that x-rays initiate radiation-stimulated oxidation of chromium impurity ions according to the scheme Cr3+ → Cr5+. Annealing of samples in hydrogen at temperatures in the range 250–650°C brings about a substantial decrease in the fraction of chromium ions in the Cr5+ charge state, but subsequent annealing of these samples in air leads to an increase in the Cr5+ fraction. Samples annealed in hydrogen generate a singlet EPR signal with the g factor of 2.0033 ± 0.0005 originating from electrically conducting regions which are formed on the surface of zirconia nanoparticles during their annealing in hydrogen.