Preparation and optical properties of Zr–Ce–O–N materials

Zr–Ce–O–N ceramics containing up to 10 cation% Ce and 15 anion% N have been prepared by the nitridation of Zr–Ce–O pellets at 1600–1900°C and PN2 pressures between 1.4 and 1.6 bar. The phase relationships of the prepared materials are investigated using XRD. UV/V is reflectance spectra analysis shows that nitrogen incorporation changes the optical properties of Zr–Ce–O ceramics causing a brown–red coloration whose intensity depends on the nitrogen amount.