Novel visible-range luminescence of pristine nanozirconia phosphor using green fabrication techniques

We report unification of pristine nanozirconia phosphor (PNZP), which exhibits orange-red luminescence. PNZP was developed in a lucid manner by the reduction of a zirconyl oxy chloride $$(\hbox {ZrOCl}₂\cdot 8\hbox {H}₂\hbox {O})$$ solution with a wet leaf extract of Syzygium cumini (S. cumini) using green fabrication techniques (ultrasonication and microwave irradiation) in the absence of a surfactant and a base, which opens a new avenue for designing novel visible-range luminescence nanophosphors. The ultraviolet–visible spectrum of the aqueous medium containing zirconia nanoparticles showed an absorption peak at around 262 nm. Powder X-ray diffraction study showed that the particles are crystalline in nature, with an average size of $$\sim $$ 2.06 $$\hbox { nm}$$ comprising a tetragonal/monoclinic $$\hbox {ZrO}₂$$ structure. Photoluminescence spectroscopy study has shown a sharp emission peak at 603 nm and broad emission peaks at 670 and 720 nm at 350 nm excitation. The most useful outcome of this work will be the development of pure nanophosphors using plant extracts which contain different fluorophores, with applications in nanoelectronic devices, catalysis, optoelectronics and piezoelectric devices.