This paper presents the results of studying the thermoluminescent (TL) char
acteristics of rare earth-doped zirconium oxide (ZrO2:TR) in thin films coa
ted on quartz substrate, exposed to UV/VIS light beam produced by a Xenon l
amp wich was coupled to a mono-chromator in the range of 200 to 900 nm. The
best results, based on the TL response, were obtained doping with europium
(optimal concentration 1.8% atomic as measured by means of EDS): The sampl
es of ZrO2:Eu exhibed three peaks in its grow curve at 120, 290 and 390 deg
rees C respectively. The first peak fades completely in 24 h at room temper
ature, meanwhile the two other are stable. The response as a function of th
e wavelength of the incident light was linear from 2.4 to 3000 mu J.cm(2) o
f spectral irradiance.