Positronium Probing of Pores in Zirconia Nanopowders

In the present paper, conventional positron lifetime measurements on selected zirconia-based nanopowders are reported. The nanopowders were doped with various metal cations (Y³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, Lu³⁺ and Mg²⁺). Lifetime experiments were conducted in air and supplemented with mass density measurements. In a range of lifetimes, from a few ns to ≈70 ns, up to two individual lifetime components could be identified. Such observations confirmed positronium (Ps) formation with subsequent ortho-Ps pick-off annihilation as well as the occurrence of pores of different size. Pore sizes were estimated using a shape-free model of the correlation between pore size and ortho-Ps lifetime. The origins of pores are discussed on the basis of the ortho-Ps data in combination with the results of mass density measurements.