Thermal Flash Annealing Stabilizes the Tetragonal Phase in Zirconia Microarchitectures as Revealed by Europium Optical Probing
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Controlling polymorphism in ceramic microarchitectures is essential for linking processing, structure, and function yet remains difficult for ceramics produced by two-photon lithography (TPL). During thermal conversion, crystallite growth typically promotes the thermodynamically stable monoclinic (m) phase, restricting access to tetragonal (t)-ZrO2. Here, we show that infrared (IR) flash annealing stabilizes t-ZrO2 microarchitectures over a broad 600–1000 °C treatment window. Rapid IR heating (20 °C s–1) limits crystallite growth and suppresses the t-to-m transformation commonly observed near 750 °C under slower annealing. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) confirms crystallite-size-dependent t-stabilization during rapid IR heating, while Europium (Eu3+) serves as an embedded optical probe of local symmetry, providing distinct photoluminescence signatures without destructive preparation. Flash thermal processing controls polymorphism, while luminescent symmetry probing enables its non-destructive diagnosis in 3D ceramic microarchitectures, providing a transferable approach for studying phase evolution in lanthanide-doped ceramics.
Source: ACS Materials Letters
Institutions: University of Twente, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Institute of Metals and Technology, National Institute of Chemistry, École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Européen des Membranes, The University of Texas at San Antonio, National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics
Language: English
Subfield: Ceramics and Composites
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W7203609112