Synthesis and Optical Properties of Nd3+, La3+ Codoped Y2O3 Transparent Ceramics

Nd3+,La3+:Y2O3 nanocrystalline powder was prepared by co-precipitation method. The 2% Nd, 3% La codoped Y2O3 transparent ceramic was fabricated by vacuum sintering at 1700 degrees C for 4 h. The structural, morphological and luminescence properties of the sample were characterized by low temperature N-2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, XRD, UV-Vis and fluorescence analysis. The results show that Nd3+ and La3+ dissolves completely in the Y2O3 cubic phase and the lattice parameters become bigger. After calcining at 1 100 degrees C for 4 h, the particles are nearly spherical with narrow size distribution with the average diameter of 60 similar to 80 nm. Transparent polycrystalline ceramics with uniform lanthanum distribution was obtained. The grain size was around 22 pm. The in-line transmittance of the transparent ceramics exceeded 76% at 800 nm for 2 mm thick samples. The main absorption peak centered at 821 nm.