Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Zirconium-containing oxides: Synthesis, optical properties and applications
Chornii V.P.1,2, Boyko V.V.1, Nedilko S.G.2, Terebilenko K.V.2, Slobodyanik M.S.2, Sheludko V.I.3
1 National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. Geroiv Oborony st., 15, Kyiv-03041, Ukraine. 
E-mail: vchornii@gmail.com
2 Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Volodymyrska st., 64/13, Kyiv-01601, Ukraine. 
3 Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University. Kyjevo-Moskovs’ka st., 24, Hlukhiv-41400, Ukraine. 

Oxide compounds with zirconium(IV) as a regular element in a crystal lattice have been widely proposed for using as phosphors for LEDs and plasma display panels, fluorescent markers for medical and biological applications, gas sensors, materials for nuclear waste confinement [1,2]. The variety of applications is determined by good physicochemical properties of such compounds: biocompatibility; stability in physiological solutions; high thermal stability; resistance to radiation; optical characteristics. Lately, a great attention has been paid to luminescence properties of zirconium oxide compounds both in a form of bulk crystals and nanocrystals. Moving to nanoscale results in changes of crystal structure (well-known phase transformations in ZrO2) and in optical properties. The latter ones are more likely to be related with increasing crystallite’s surface role and it is crucial factor for modification of activator’s (rare-earth and transition metal ions) luminescence in Zr - compounds. 
In this work synthesis techniques of the pure and doped zirconium oxide compounds have been reviewed. The peculiarities of electronic band structures of various zirconium oxide compounds and effects of crystallite size on physical properties have been studied in detail. 

1.	Kaneyoshi M., Luminescence of some zirconium-containing compounds under vacuum ultraviolet excitations // J Lumin.-2006.-121.-P. 102-108.
2.	Kaszewski J. et al., Long-term organism distribution of microwave hydrothermally synthesized ZrO2:Pr nanoparticles // Neuromethods.-2018.-135.-P. 251-267.