Nd:Y2O3 Powder Synthesized by Low Temperature Calcination for Fabricating Transparent Ceramics

A precursor for Nd3+-doped Y2O3 powder was prepared by a coprecipitation method with (NH4)HCO3 as precipitant. The influence of fixed duration calcination at low temperature on the micromorphology of the powder, and the subsequent effect of sintering conditions on the transmittance of the resulting Nd3+-doped Y2O3 ceramic was systematically studied. The results show that the shape of the Y2O3 particles changes from acicular to flake-like by calcining for 2 h and increasing the calcination temperature, and that a sample sintered at 1983 K for 8 h after being calcined at 973 K for 2 h shows the highest transmittance. This example of transparent Nd3+-doped ceramic is a good candidate for solid-state lasers, IR windows, lamp envelopes, etc.