Absorption spectrum of Er3+ ions in cubic zirconia

Yttria-stabilized zirconia crystals doped with Er3+ ions were prepared from the melt using a large solar furnace. In order to investigate the oxygen ion coordination around Y3+ ion using Er3+ ion as a probe, the absorption spectra of the crystals were measured in the spectral region 30000 to 4000 cm−1. From the experimental results, the following characteristics have been deduced: The oxygen ion coordination around Y3+ ion in cubic zirconia is not only eightfold but also sevenfold or sixfold, and oxygen ions deviate slightly from the fluorite-type lattice sites. Thus, the cubic zirconia does not take a perfect fluoritetype crystal structure.