Investigation of Co- and Pr-doped yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia (YSZ) single crystal grown by skull melting method

Co-(0.7 wt%) and Pr-(2.0, 3.5 or 5.0 wt%) doped cubic zirconia (ZrO :Y O = 50 : 50 wt%) single crystals grown by a skull melting method were heat-treated in N at 1150 C for 5 hrs. The brown colored as-grown single crystals were changed into either dark brownish green, greenish blue and light green color after the heat treatment. Before and after the heat treatment, the YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) single crystals were cut for wafer form (o7.5 mm × t3 mm). The optical and structural properties were examined by UV-VIS spectrophotometer and X-ray diffraction. Absorption by Co (≒589 nm: Γ ( A ( F)) →Γ +Γ ( T ( F)), ≒610 nm: Γ ( A ( F)) →Γ ( T ( F)), ≒661 nm: Γ ( A ( F)) →Γ ( T ( F))) and Pr (≒450 nm: H − P , ≒473 nm: H → P , ≒484 nm: H → P ), change of ionization energy and lattice parameter were confirmed.