Zirconia nanopowders of tetragonal crystallographic structure doped with Pr_2O_3 were prepared by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and coprecipitation method. The surface compositions were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The nanopowder particles appear to be inhomogeneous in their structure: for the surface region an enrichment with praseodymium is detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. This allows the assumption of a core-shell-like structure of single nanopowders particles. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirm also Zr^{4+} and Pr^{3+} as main oxidation states of zirconium and praseodymium in the studied compounds.
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