Hot Pressing of Infrared‐Transparent Y2O3–MgO Nanocomposites Using Sol–Gel Combustion Synthesized Powders

A sol–gel combustion method has been used to synthesize Y₂O₃–50 vol%MgO composite nanopowders. Solutions of the precursor nitrates were mixed with citric acid and ethylene glycol, heated from 200°C to a predetermined temperature gradually, giving nanocrystalline ceramic powders. The influence of the ratio of yttrium nitrate to the whole precursor mixture and the holding temperature on the properties of the composite nanopowder was investigated using a combination of thermal analysis, X‐ray diffraction, specific surface area analysis, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. When the ratio of yttrium nitrate to the whole precursor mixture reaches 22.5 mol%, the average particle size of synthesized composite nanopowder is 13 nm and the specific surface area is 45.9 m²/g. Then the synthesized Y₂O₃–MgO composite nanopowder was consolidated by the hot‐pressing technique at 1200°C with different dwell time. As a result, the nanocomposite ceramic prepared with a dwell time of 60 min got the highest transmittance of 75% at 5 μm wavelength. The cut‐off wavelength of Y₂O₃–MgO nanocomposite ceramic reaches 9.8 μm, which is superior to other mid‐IR transparent materials. In addition, the fabricated sample is more or less transparent in visible wavelengths and the transmittance at 0.8 μm is as high as 14.5%.     

Infrared‐Transparent Y2O3–MgO Nanocomposites Fabricated by the Glucose Sol–Gel Combustion and Hot‐Pressing Technique

A glucose sol–gel combustion method has been developed to synthesize composite nanopowders with equal volume fractions of Y₂O₃ and MgO. The synthesis involves the generation of precursor foam containing Y³⁺ and Mg²⁺ cations via the chemical and thermal degradation of glucose molecules in aqueous solutions. Subsequent calcination of the foam gave the composite nanopowders uniform composition and surface areas of 44–62 m²/g depending on the relative amount of glucose. Then the nanopowder with an average particle size of 19 nm was consolidated by the hot‐pressing technique with different sintering temperatures. The fabricated nanocomposite is mid‐infrared transparent as the result of fine grains, narrow grain size distribution, and uniform phase domains. The transmittance increases with increase in the sintering temperature and reaches 83.5% at 3–5 μm mid‐infrared wave range once the temperature reaches 1350°C, which is close to the theoretical value of 85%. And it is noteworthy that the cutoff wavelength reaches 9.6 μm, which is superior to those of spinel, AlON, and sapphire. And the Vickers hardness of the sample reaches 10.0 ± 0.1 GPa, which is significantly higher than those of the coarse grained single‐phase MgO and Y₂O₃. The results indicate that the glucose sol–gel combustion and hot‐pressing technique is an effective method to fabricate infrared transparent Y₂O₃–MgO nanocomposites.     

Structural and Thermo‐Mechanical Properties of Nd: Y2O3 Transparent Ceramics

Various content of neodymia Nd: Y₂O₃ (Nd: 0.5–5.0 at.%) transparent ceramics were fabricated by vacuum sintering. The prepared Nd: Y₂O₃ ceramics exhibit high transmittance (~80%) at the wavelength of 1100 nm. It is found that the increase in Nd concentration enhances the grain size growth, while decreases the phonon energy, which is benefit for improving both the luminescence quantum and up‐conversion efficiency. The thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent 1.0 at.% Nd: Y₂O₃ ceramic is 5.51 W·(m·K)^?1 and 8.11 × 10^?6 K^?1, respectively. The hardness and the fracture toughness of the transparent ceramic is 9.18 GPa and 1.03 Mpa·m^1/2, respectively. The results indicate that the Nd: Y₂O₃ transparent ceramic is a potential candidate material for laser.     

High‐Selectivity Y2O3‐Doped SiO2 Nanocomposite Membranes for Gas Separation in Steam at High Temperatures

Asymmetric structures were fabricated by depositing Y₂O₃‐doped SiO₂ (Si/Y) membranes onto γ‐Al₂O₃ supported by tubular α‐Al₂O₃. The thickness of the Y₂O₃‐doped SiO₂ deposits was approximately 100 nm. The deposits/membranes have micropores with a pore diameter ~ <0.40–0.55 nm. Pore size distribution measurements were conducted directly on the membranes before and after hydrothermal treatment with a nano‐permporometer. The gas permeance properties of the membranes were measured in the temperature range 100°C–500°C. The Y‐doped SiO₂ membrane (Si/Y = 3/1) was found to exhibit asymptotically stable permeances of 2.39 × 10^?7 mol/m²/s/Pa for He and 6.19 × 10^?10 mol/m²/s/Pa for CO₂, with a high selectivity of 386 (He/CO₂) at 500°C for 20 h in the presence of steam. The Y‐doped silica membranes exhibit very high gas permeances for molecules with smaller kinetic diameters. The apparent activation energies of the H₂ permeance at 400°C were 24.2 ± 0.2 and 21.3 ± 0.7 kJ/mol for SiO₂ and Si/Y, respectively.     

Synthesis,Structure and Properties of MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-B2O3 Transparent Glass-Ceramics

Silicon - MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-B2O3 system transparent glass-ceramics have been prepared by conventional melt-quenching method followed by controlled crystallization, and their properties were also...     

Transparent ultrafine Yb3+:Y2O3 laser ceramics fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Conventional ceramic processing techniques do not produce ultrafine‐grained materials. However, since the mechanical and optical properties are highly dependent on the grain size, advanced processing techniques are needed to obtain ceramics with a grain size smaller than the wavelength of visible light for new laser sources. As an empirical study for lasing from an ultrafine‐grained ceramics, transparent Yb³⁺:Y₂O₃ ceramics with several doping concentrations were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and their microstructures were analyzed, along with optical and spectroscopic properties. Laser oscillation was verified for 10 at.% Yb³⁺:Y₂O₃ ceramics. The laser ceramics in our study were sintered without sintering additives, and the SPS produced an ultrafine microstructure with an average grain size of 261 nm, which is about one order of magnitude smaller than that of ceramics sintered by conventional techniques. A load was applied during heating to enhance densification, and an in‐line transmittance near the theoretical value was obtained. An analysis of the crystal structure confirmed that the Yb³⁺:Y₂O₃ ceramics were in a solid solution. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report verifying the lasing properties of not only ultrafine‐grained but also Yb‐doped ceramics obtained by SPS.     

Catalytic Properties of Cr2O3 Doped with MgO Supported on MgF2 and Al2O3

Catalytic properties of Cr₂O₃ supported on MgF₂ or Al₂O₃ have been modified by magnesium oxide. The catalysts have been obtained by the co-impregnation method and characterised by: BET, XRD and TPR. As follows from the results, the oxides supported on magnesium fluorine react with each other already at 400 °C, leading to formation of an amorphous spinel-like phase. On the Al₂O₃ support such an MgCr₂O₄ spinel has appeared at much higher temperatures. The addition of magnesium oxide has a significant effect on the activity and selectivity of the catalysts studied in the CO oxidation reaction at room temperature and in the reaction of cyclohexane dehydrogenation. The magnesium–chromium catalysts supported on MgF₂ have been found to show much higher activity and selectivity than the analogous systems supported on Al₂O₃.     

Impact of Eu3+ Dopants on Optical Spectroscopy of Ce3+: Y3Al5O12‐Embedded Transparent Glass‐Ceramics

Transparent glass‐ceramics containing Ce³⁺: Y₃Al₅O₁₂ phosphors and Eu³⁺ ions were successfully fabricated by a low‐temperature co‐sintering technique to explore their potential application in white light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs). Microstructure of the sample was studied using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The impact of co‐sintering temperature, Ce³⁺: Y₃Al₅O₁₂ crystal content and Eu³⁺ doping content on optical properties of glass‐ceramics were systematically studied by emission, excitation spectra, and decay curves. Notably, the spatial separation of these two different activators in the present glass‐ceramics, where Ce³⁺ ions located in YAG crystalline phase while the Eu³⁺ ones stayed in glass matrix, is advantageous to the realization of both intense yellow emission assigned to Ce³⁺: 5d→4f transition and red luminescence originating from Eu³⁺: 4f→4f transitions. As a result, the quantum yield of the glass‐ceramic reached as high as 93%, and the constructed WLEDs exhibited an optimal luminous efficacy of 122 lm/W, correlated color temperature of 6532 K and color rendering index of 75.     

Y2O3：Eu^3＋薄膜的制备及发光性能的研究

以稀土氧化物为原料，用溶胶-凝胶法制备前驱液，加入适量的聚乙烯醇做成膜物质，用浸渍拉提法在石英玻璃表面上得到均匀的薄膜，然后经过适当的干燥和热处理得到Y2O3：Eu^3＋发光薄膜．讨论了Eu^3＋的掺杂浓度和热处理温度对薄膜发光性能的影响．试验表明：Eu^3＋的最佳掺杂浓度为8％（摩尔分数），薄膜的发光性能随热处理温度提高而增强，当热处理温度达到700℃后，薄膜的发光性能基本上稳定．同时用原子力显微镜和X射线衍射分析了薄膜的表面形貌和结构．     

含Y2O3的ZnO-Bi2O3-B2O3系统玻璃热学与电学性能研究

用红外光谱仪、拉曼光谱仪和差热分析仪研究了用“熔化-急冷”制得的用于SOFC封装的含Y2O3的ZnO-Bi2O3-B2O3系统玻璃的结构和转变温度(Tg);用X射线衍射仪、热膨胀系数仪和高阻计研究了由“模压成型-热处理”制得的该玻璃制品的微晶化、热膨胀系数(α)和体积电阻率(p)情况.结果表明:Y2O3≤0.5～1.0wt.％时,Y2O3能促进[BO3]向[BO4]转变,使α降低;Y2O3≥0.5～1.0wt.％时,玻璃中Bi-O键增多,又使α降低趋势趋缓;随Y2O3增加,其作用可能由破坏网络结构逐渐向增强网络结构转变,致T8先降后升;添加Y2O3延缓了玻璃的析晶;微晶化能提高α和ρ;添加Y2O3虽致α和ρ下降,但其值仍在SOFC封接玻璃的要求范围内.     

(Y1-xLax)2O3透明陶瓷的制备及性能

采用传统陶瓷生产工艺制备了(Y1-xLax)2O3(x=0～0.125)透明陶瓷.研究了陶瓷的显微结构、硬度、透光性及热导率.结果表明:La2O3可以有效促进陶瓷烧结,抑制晶粒长大.La2O3添加后,陶瓷硬度由786MPa提高到878MPa,陶瓷热导率明显降低,由16.92W/(m·K)降为5.68W/(m·K).制备...     

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.     

纳米粉体Y_2O_3:Ti~(3+),Pr~(3+)的光谱性能

采用共沉淀法在氮氢气氛中制备出Y2O3:Ti3+,Pr3+纳米粉体,通过XRD、TEM方法确认了它的晶相与晶粒尺寸,测量了它的激发与发射谱,并与Y2O3:Ti3+纳米粉体的光谱进行了比较。结果显示:共掺Pr3+仅在281nm处产生了激发峰,而在蓝绿光区没有产生激发峰,以致365～480nm的光激发不出Pr3+的特征红荧光。表明:共掺Pr3+的Y2O3:Ti3+用作白光LED荧光粉,难以改善发光性能。     

Preparation of Fe3Si‐Al2O3 Nanocomposite Powders by Mechanochemical Reaction of Fe3O4‐Si‐Al Powder Mixtures

Phase evolution and morphology of Fe₃O₄‐Si‐Al powder mixtures during ball milling from 30 min to 20 h were investigated. A 3‐h critical milling was necessary for the occurrence of mechanically activated combustion reaction. The reaction results in the formation of Fe (Si), Fe₃Si, and α‐Al₂O₃. During ball milling from 3 to 20 h, Fe (Si) and Fe₃Si were combined into disordered Fe₃Si intermetallic and Fe₃Si‐Al₂O₃ composite powder was formed. The presence of in situ formed alumina leads to a decrease in crystallite and particle sizes. The Fe₃Si‐Al₂O₃ particles after milling for 20 h had a crystalline size of 10~12 nm.     

Fabrication and Characterization of Transparent (Y0.98−xTb0.02Eux)2O3 Ceramics with Color‐Tailorable Emission

Transparent (Y_0.98?xTb_0.02Eu_x)₂O₃ (x = 0–0.04) ceramics with color‐tailorable emission have been successfully fabricated by vacuum sintering at the relatively low temperature of 1700°C for 4 h. These ceramics have the in‐line transmittances of ~73%–76% at 613 nm, the wavelength of Eu³⁺ emission (the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition). Thermodynamic calculation indicates that the Tb⁴⁺ ions in the starting oxide powder can essentially be reduced to Tb³⁺ under ~10^?3 Pa (the pressure for vacuum sintering) when the temperature is above ~394°C. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra of the transparent (Y_0.98?xTb_0.02Eu_x)₂O₃ ceramics exhibit one spin‐forbidden (high‐spin, HS) band at ~323 nm and two spin‐allowed (low‐spin, LS) bands at ~303 and 281 nm. Improved emissions were observed for both Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ by varying the excitation wavelength from 270 to 323 nm, without notably changing the color coordinates of the whole emission. The transparent (Y_0.98Tb_0.02)₂O₃ ceramic exhibits the typical green emission of Tb³⁺ at 544 nm (the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition). With increasing Eu³⁺ incorporation, the emission color of the (Y_0.98?xTb_0.02Eu_x)₂O₃ ceramics can be precisely tailored from yellowish‐green to reddish‐orange via the effective energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ under the excitation with the peak wavelength of the HS band. At the maximum Eu³⁺ emission intensity (x = 0.02), the ceramic shows a high energy‐transfer efficiency of ~85.3%. The fluorescence lifetimes of both the 544 nm Tb³⁺ and 613 nm Eu³⁺ emissions were found to decrease with increasing Eu³⁺ concentration.     

Y2O3掺杂CaO-Al2O3-SiO2系微晶玻璃的研究

在CaO-Al2O3-SiO2(CAS)系统微晶玻璃中引入稀土氧化物Y2O3,结合XRD、SEM等测试手段,研究了Y2O3的引入对微晶玻璃烧结过程、微观结构以及性能的影响。实验结果表明:随着Y2O3的引入,微晶玻璃烧结温度降低,烧结时间变短。当Y2O3质量分数为3.25%时,CAS微晶玻璃具有最佳的制备工艺和最好的力学性能。     

Effects of Gd Substitution on Sintering and Optical Properties of Highly Transparent (Y0.95−xGdxEu0.05)2O3 Ceramics

Highly transparent (Y_0.95?xGd_xEu_0.05)₂O₃ (x = 0.15–0.55) ceramics have been fabricated by vacuum sintering at the relatively low temperature of 1700°C for 4 h with the in‐line transmittances of 73.6%–79.5% at the Eu³⁺ emission wavelength of 613 nm (~91.9%–99.3% of the theoretical transmittance of Y_1.34Gd_0.6Eu_0.06O₃ single crystal), whereas the x = 0.65 ceramic undergoes a phase transformation at 1650°C and has a transparency of 53.4% at the lower sintering temperature of 1625°C. The effects of Gd³⁺ substitution for Y³⁺ on the particle characteristics, sintering kinetics, and optical performances of the materials were systematically studied. The results show that (1) calcining the layered rare‐earth hydroxide precursors of the ternary Y–Gd–Eu system yielded rounded oxide particles with greatly reduced hard agglomeration and the particle/crystallite size slightly decreases along with increasing Gd³⁺ incorporation; (2) in the temperature range 1100°C–1480°C, the sintering kinetics of (Y_0.95?xGd_xEu_0.05)₂O₃ is mainly controlled by grain‐boundary diffusion with similar activation energies of ~230 kJ/mol; (3) Gd³⁺ addition promotes grain growth and densification in the temperature range 1100°C–1400°C; (4) the bandgap energies of the (Y_0.95?xGd_xEu_0.05)₂O₃ ceramics generally decrease with increasing x; however, they are much lower than those of the oxide powders; (5) both the oxide powders and the transparent ceramics exhibit the typical red emission of Eu³⁺ at ~613 nm (the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition) under charge transfer (CT) excitation. Gd³⁺ incorporation enhances the photoluminescence and shortens the fluorescence lifetime of Eu³⁺.     

Fabrication of Gd2O3‐MgO nanocomposite optical ceramics with varied crystallographic modifications of Gd2O3 constituent

The fabrication of Gd₂O₃‐MgO nanocomposite optical ceramics via hot‐pressing using sol‐gel derived cubic‐Gd₂O₃ and MgO nanopowders was investigated. The precursor powder calcined at 600°C had an average particle size of 12 nm. The effects of hot‐pressing temperature on constituent phases, microstructure, mid‐infrared transmittance, and microhardness were studied. The crystallographic modifications of Gd₂O₃ phase varied with the increase in sintering temperature from 1250 to 1350°C. The monoclinic‐Gd₂O₃ phase was retained for the composite sintered at 1350°C and the sample had an average grain size of 90 nm, excellent transmission (80.4%‐84.8%) over 3‐6 μm wavelength range, and enhanced hardness value of 14.1 GPa.     

Effect of Gd Content on Luminescence Properties of Eu3+‐Doped La2−xGdxZr2O7 Transparent Ceramics

3 at.% Eu³⁺‐doped La_2?xGd_xZr₂O₇ (x = 0–2.0) transparent ceramics were fabricated by vacuum sintering. The effect of Gd content on crystal structure, in‐line transmittance, and luminescence property of the ceramics were investigated. The ceramics are all cubic pyrochlore structure with high transparency. The cut‐off edge of the transmittance curve of the ceramics varied with Gd content and was also affected by the annealing process. The luminescence intensity became stronger for the ceramics annealed in air. As Gd content increased, the energy band structure as well as the luminescence behavior of the ceramics was changed; in addition, the symmetry of the crystal lattice reduced, resulting in the shift of the strongest luminescence peak from 585 nm to around 630 nm.     

Controlled Synthesis of Layered Rare‐Earth Hydroxide Nanosheets Leading to Highly Transparent (Y0.95Eu0.05)2O3 Ceramics

Chemical precipitation at the freezing temperature of ~4°C has directly yielded layered rare‐earth hydroxide [LRH, Ln₂(OH)₅NO₃·nH₂O, Ln = Y_0.95Eu_0.05] nanosheets (up to 7 nm thick) for the Y/Eu binary system, with the interlayer NO₃^? exchangeable with SO₄^2?. Calcining the sulfate derivative at 1100°C for 4 h produces well‐dispersed and readily sinterable Ln₂O₃ red phosphor powders (~14.8 m²/g) that can be densified into highly transparent ceramics via optimized vacuum sintering at the relatively low temperature of 1700°C for 4 h (average grain size ~14 μm; in‐line transmittance ~80% at the 613 nm Eu³⁺ emission or ~99% of the theoretical transmittance of Y₂O₃ single crystal). Our systematic studies also found that (1) the extent of SO₄^2? exchange and the interlayer distance of LRH are both affected by the SO₄^2?/Ln³⁺ molar ratio (R), and an almost complete exchange is achievable at R = 0.25 as expected from the chemical formula (one SO₄^2? replaces two NO₃^? for charge balance). The optimal R value for sintering, however, was found to be 0.03; (2) The Ln³⁺ concentration for LRH synthesis substantially affects properties of the resultant oxides, and hard agglomeration has been significantly reduced at the optimized Ln³⁺ concentration of 0.05–0.075 mol/L; (3) Sulfate exchange significantly alters the thermal decomposition pathway of LRH, and was found essential to produce well‐dispersed and highly sinterable oxide powders; (4) Both the oxide powders and transparent ceramics exhibit the typical red emission of Eu³⁺ at ~613 nm (the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition) under charge‐transfer (CT) excitation. Red‐shifted CT band center, stronger excitation/emission, and shorter fluorescence lifetime were, however, observed for the transparent ceramics.