Luminescence of defect centres in electroreduced single crystals of yttria-stabilized zirconia

Abstract Results on a specific colour-centre luminescence, found in reduced YSZ, are discussed in the light of defect processes accompanying the reduction treatment. The comparative behaviour of this luminescence, following direct excitation or indirect excitonic transfer, indicates the presence of a variety of electronic traps, competing with the excess oxygen vacancies (F-centres) in the establishement of thermally activated carrier exchange and related equilibria.