Fabrication and luminescence properties of Nd3+:Y2O3 transparent ceramics

Y2O3 nanoparticles doped with different concentrations of Nd3+ were prepared by the coprecipitation method, and the Nd3+:Y2O3 transparent ceramics were fabricated by vacuum sintering at 1700 degrees C, under 1 x 10(-3) Pa for 6 h. The structural, morphological, and luminescence properties of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence analysis. The results show that the Nd3+:Y2O3 nanoparticles are homogeneous in size and nearly spherical, and the average diameter of the particles is in the range of 40-60 nm. There are no other phases except the Y2O3 cubic phase in the Nd3+:Y2O3 nanoparticles and transparent ceramics. Nd3+ dissolves completely in the Y2O3 cubic phase. The relative density of Nd3+:Y2O3 transparent ceramics is 99.7%, and the transmittance of the Nd3+:Y2O3 transparent ceramics exceeds 80% at the wavelength range.