Raman Spectroscopy of Tetragonal Zirconia Solid Solutions

Raman spectra of tetragonal zirconia were studied for the systems ZrO₂-Y₂O₃, ZrO₂-CeO₂, ZrO₂-Y₂O₃-Nb₂O₅, and ZrO₂-Y₂O₃-Ta₂O₅ There was no change in the Raman bands for tetragonal ziraconia in the ZrO₂-Y₂O₃ system as a function of Y₂O₃ content . On the other hand, in the ternary systems, the Raman lines corresponding to the stretching modes of two sets of cation-oxygen bonds shifted to greater wave numbers as either Nb₂O₅ Contents increased in Y₂O₃-stabilized tetragonal zirconia. This difference was interpreted by local bonding environments of the pentavalent cations, which were supposed to occupy tetrahedral sites in teteragonal zirconia solid solutions.