The absorption and emission properties of highly transparent ZrO2-doped Yb3+: Y2O3 ceramics

Ultra-highly transparent ZrO₂-doped Yb³⁺: Y₂O₃ ceramics were prepared by slip casting and vacuum pressureless sintering and the transmittance reached the highest value of 80.9% for the sample doped with 8.0 at% Yb³⁺. There are three main absorption peaks at 905, 950, and 976 nm, corresponding to the transition from the lowest level of field splitting of ²F_7/2 crystal to every splitting energy levels of ²F_5/2 crystal field. We analyzed the absorption and emission spectra of transparent Yb³⁺: Y₂O₃ from the energy level structure of Yb³⁺, and the transmission, absorption, and emission spectra were systematically studied. There are three main absorption peaks at 905, 950, and 976 nm and four emission peaks at 1076, 1031, 1013, and 977 nm, respectively. The emission peaks at 977 and 1013 nm broaden and vanish for 8.0 and 10.0 at% Yb³⁺-doped Y₂O₃, which may be related to the change of Y₂O₃ crystal field caused by high concentration.     

Dy3+-doped Y2Zr2O7 highly transparent ceramics for ultraviolet excitable warm white light-emitting applications

Attaining effective warm white light emitting in functionally advantageous transparent polycrystalline ceramics is vitally important to guarantee the development of both human and botanical systems. In response to this aim, a series of Dy³⁺-doped Y₂Zr₂O₇ (YZO) transparent ceramics were prepared via a solid-state reaction and vacuum sintering approach in this work. These fabricated ceramics show high transparency, where the in-line transmittance at 700 nm is about 76%, which is very close to the theoretical limit (78%). In addition, under the excitation of UV light sources (358 and 384 nm), strong warm white light emissions were observed in these YZO:Dy transparent ceramics. The corresponding photoluminescence characteristics and mechanisms of YZO:Dy ceramics are investigated carefully. The Dy-doped YZO ceramics integrate with high transparency and UV-excitable warm white light emission properties, making them promising light-emitting converter materials for light-emitting source applications.     

Synthesis and luminescence characterization of Pr3+, Gd3+ co-doped SrF2 transparent ceramics

Pr³⁺, Gd³⁺ co-doped SrF₂ transparent ceramic, as the potential material for visible luminescent applications, was prepared by hot-pressing of precursor nanopowders. The microstructure, phase compositions, and in-line transmittance, as well as the photoluminescence properties were investigated systematically. Highly optical quality Pr,Gd:SrF₂ transparent ceramic with nearly pore-free microstructure was obtained at 800°C for 1.5 hours. The average in-line transmittance of the x at.% Pr, 6 at.% Gd:SrF₂ (x = 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0) transparent ceramics reached to 87.3 % in the infrared region. The photoluminescence spectra presented intense visible light emissions under the excitation of 444 nm, the main intrinsic emission bands located at 483 and 605 nm, which were attributed to the transitions of Pr³⁺: ³P₀ → ³H₄ and ¹D₂ → ³H₄, respectively. With the co-doping of Gd³⁺ ions, the emission intensity of the Pr:SrF₂ transparent ceramic was greatly enhanced. All the emission bands of x at.% Pr, 6 at.% Gd:SrF₂ transparent ceramics exhibited the highest luminescence intensity with the 1.0 at.% Pr³⁺ doping concentrations, whereas the lifetimes decreased dramatically with the Pr³⁺ doping contents increasing from 0.2 to 2.0 at.% due to its intense concentration quenching effect. The 1 at.% Pr, 6 at.% Gd:SrF₂ transparent ceramic is a promising material for visible luminescent device applications.     

Optical and thermal properties of TiO2-doped Y2O3 transparent ceramics synthesized by hot isostatic pressing

Highly transparent Y₂O₃ ceramics using TiO₂ as an additive were synthesized by presintering and hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The effects of TiO₂ contents and sintering conditions on the optical properties of the final transparent ceramics were investigated. A small amount (0.04-0.16 wt%) may decrease the densification temperature by about 200°C. The Y₂O₃ ceramics doped with 0.16 wt% TiO₂ revealed a transparency of 82% in the wavelength range 1-6 μm. The thermal conductivity of the samples is about 11.8 W/m K at 25°C, which is close to that of the undoped Y₂O₃ ceramics.     

Achieving fabrication of highly transparent Y2O3 ceramics via air pre-sintering by deionization treatment of suspension

An easy albeit quite effective deionization suspension treatment was adopted to alleviate the detrimental effects related to the hydrolysis of Y₂O₃ in an aqueous medium. Fabrication of highly transparent Y₂O₃ ceramics with a fine grain size via air pre-sintering and post–hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment without using any sintering additive was achieved using the treated suspensions. The hydrolysis issue of Y₂O₃ powder in an aqueous medium was effectively alleviated by using deionization treatment, and a well-dispersed suspension with a low concentration of dissolved Y³⁺ species was obtained. The dispersed suspensions were consolidated by the centrifugal casting method, and the green bodies derived from the suspension of 35.0 vol% solid loading showed an improved homogeneity with a relative density of 52.1%. Fully dense Y₂O₃ transparent ceramic with high transparency was obtained by pre-sintering consolidated green compacts at a low temperature of 1400°C for 16 h in air followed by a post-HIP treatment at 1550°C for 2 h under 200 MPa pressure. The sample had a fine average grain size of 690 nm. The in-line transmittance of the sample reached 83.3% and 81.8% at 1100 nm and 800 nm, respectively, very close to the theoretical values of Y₂O₃.     

Fabrication and characterization of highly transparent Er:Y2O3 ceramics with ZrO2 and La2O3 additives

In this study, we report highly transparent Er:Y₂O₃ ceramics (0–10 at% Er) fabricated by a vacuum sintering method using compound sintering additives of ZrO₂ and La₂O₃. The transmittance, microstructure, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the Er:Y₂O₃ ceramics were evaluated. The in-line transmittance of all of the Er:Y₂O₃ ceramics (1.2 mm thick) exceeds 83% at 1100 nm and 81% at 600 nm. With an increase in the Er doping concentration from 0 to 10 at%, the average grain size, microhardness and fracture toughness remain nearly unchanged, while the thermal conductivity decreases slightly from 5.55 to 4.89 W/m K. A nearly homogeneous doping level of the laser activator Er up to 10 at% in macro-and nanoscale was measured along the radial direction from the center to the edge of a disk specimen, which is the prominent advantage of polycrystalline over single-crystal materials. Based on the finding of excellent optical and mechanical properties, the compound sintering additives of ZrO₂ and La₂O₃ are demonstrated to be effective for the fabrication of transparent Y₂O₃ ceramics. These results may provide a guideline for the application of transparent Er:Y₂O₃ laser ceramics.     

添加Y2O3对ZrN(ZrON)-SiAlON性能的影响

为了以较低成本制备较高性能的ZrN(ZrON)-SiAlON复合陶瓷材料,先以粉煤灰、锆英石和活性炭为主要原料,经碳热还原氮化法合成ZrN-SiAlON复合粉;然后在ZrN-SiAlON复合粉中添加不同量(质量分数分别为0、5%、10%)的Y2O3,在1500℃保温1 h埋碳烧结制备了ZrN(ZrON)-SiAlON复合陶瓷材料,并研究了ZrN(ZrON)-SiAlON复合陶瓷材料的相组成、烧结性能和力学性能等。结果表明:Y2O3可促进ZrN和β-SiAlON等主晶相的形成,同时促进材料的烧结致密化。添加5%(w)的Y2O3制得的ZrN(ZrON)-SiAlON复合陶瓷材料的显气孔率为5.3%,体积密度为3.47 g·cm-3,常温耐压强度为29.4 MPa,性能较优。     

Fabrication of 0.24Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.42Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.34PbTiO3 transparent ceramics by conventional sintering technique

0.24Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-0.42Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.34PbTiO₃ transparent ceramics were fabricated by a conventional sintering technique. Through optimization of sintering conditions of calcination and sintering temperatures and time, the obtained ceramics showed high optical transmittance of 53% and 71% at light wavelengths of 1300 and 2000 nm, respectively. The ceramics showed a rhombohedral to tetragonal phase transition at ~120°C and a tetragonal to cubic phase transition at 222°C. These transition temperatures were higher than those of 0.67Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)-0.33PbTiO₃ ceramics. In addition, the ceramics had a ferroelectric hysteresis loop, a large piezoelectric constant d₃₃ of 407 pC/N, and a planar electromechanical coupling factor k_p of 52%. These results suggest that the transparent ceramics may be used as a temperature-stable, linear electro-optic material.     

Influence of microstructure control on optical and mechanical properties of infrared transparent Y2O3-MgO nanocomposite

Among many kinds of infrared transparent ceramics, the Y₂O₃-MgO nanocomposite is one of the most promising candidates to meet the requirements of excellent IR transparency and strength. Since this nanocomposite has a large difference in refractive index between its two phases, minimizing the grain size is important to obtain transparency in the near-infrared region. The microstructure of a sintered body depends on the initial particles. We studied the effect of the microstructure of Y₂O₃-MgO nanocomposite on the optical and mechanical characteristics. Uniform and fine Y₂O₃-MgO nanoparticles can be synthesized via the glycine-nitrate process with optimum conditions. Grain coarsening was suppressed by using the hot-press method, through which small grains with enhanced transmittance and hardness was produced. The correlations between the optical properties and the sintering temperature were further investigated. The results indicate that optimized powder synthesis and sintering conditions are required to obtain Y₂O₃-MgO nanocomposites with outstanding mechanical and optical performance.     

Energy storage properties and transparency in (Ba0.6Sr0.4)1-1.5xBixTi1-x(Mg1/3Nb2/3)xO3 ceramics

Fully densified (transparent) ceramic with small grain size is highly desired to improve the field breakdown strength (BDS) and its scattering. Sintering behavior, microstructural evolution, electric, dielectric, and energy storage properties of (Ba_0.6Sr_0.4)_1-1.5xBi_xTi_1-x(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_xO₃ (x = .04–.10) ceramics have been studied in this paper. Phase pure cubic perovskite is observed for the x = .04 composition. Nb-rich tungsten bronze type and Ti-rich barium titanate secondary phases are present in the x > .05 compositions. A multiphasic transparent ferroelectric ceramic with ∼74.2% (780 nm) transmittance and a high refractive index of ∼2.3 within the visible region could be successfully obtained for the x = .10 composition by traditional ceramic process. The x = .09 composition demonstrates good energy storage performance (recoverable energy density W_rec = 3.74J/cm³, efficiency η = 77% and BDS = 390kV/cm) with extremely low scattering in BDS, suggesting potential application in large sized energy storage capacitor.     

Microstructure and properties characterization of Yb:Lu2O3 transparent ceramics from co-precipitated nano-powders

5at.% Yb:Lu2O3 transparent ceramics were fabricated successfully by vacuum sintering along with hot isostatic pressing posttreatment from the nanopowders. The influences of calcination temperature on morphology and microstructures of powders and ceramics were studied systematically. The optimal ceramic sample from the nanopowder calcined at 1050°C shows uniform and dense microstructure with the in-line transmittance of 81.5% at 1100 nm. The results of the thermal measurements, that is, thermal conductivity and specific heat, were related to the changes occurring in the microstructure of the ceramics studied. It was shown on this basis that appropriate control of the technological process of sintering ceramics makes it possible to obtain laser ceramics with very good thermal properties as well as maintaining their high optical quality. Concerning the laser performance, the highest-optical quality 5at.% Yb:Lu₂O₃ sample was pumped in quasi-continuous wave conditions measuring a maximum output power of 2.59 W with a corresponding slope efficiency of 32.4%.     

High-entropy transparent (Y0.2La0.2Gd0.2Yb0.2Dy0.2)2Zr2O7 ceramics as novel phosphor materials with multi-wavelength excitation and emission properties

High-entropy ceramics have been extensively studied because of their novel intrinsic properties and have significant potential for application in various fields. In this study, a novel high-entropy transparent ceramic phosphor (Y_0.2La_0.2Gd_0.2Yb_0.2Dy_0.2)₂Zr₂O₇ was successfully prepared via a solid-state reaction and vacuum sintering. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed to analyze the phases and microstructures of the as-prepared powders and sintered ceramics. The highest in-line transmittance of the developed ceramic was 74 % in both visible and infrared regions. To reveal its luminescent properties as a potential WLED material, the photoluminescence of ceramic samples was analyzed using multi-excitation and emission spectra. Strong emissions originating from Dy³⁺ and Gd³⁺ were observed, and the emission color was effectively regulated under multi-wavelength excitation. Combining excellent optical transmittance with unique photoluminescence performance, the (Y_0.2La_0.2Gd_0.2Yb_0.2Dy_0.2)₂Zr₂O₇ high-entropy transparent ceramics can find potential applications as a novel WLED material with multi-wavelength excitation and tunable emission.     

Negative piezoelectric behaviors in hybrid improper ferroelectric Ca3-xNaxTi2O7 (x = 0, 0.01) ceramics

Hybrid improper ferroelectric Ca₃Ti₂O₇ (CTO) and Ca_2.99Na_0.01Ti₂O₇ (NaCTO) ceramics were synthesized using the solid-state reaction method. X-ray powder diffraction technique was used to determine the phase purity and crystal structure of the prepared ceramics. We investigated their ferroelectric polarization, dynamic switching current, and piezoelectric properties, and confirmed their ferroelectric reversal property with a coercive field of 60-80 kV/cm. A negative piezoelectric behavior was observed with a maximum strain of −0.01% and −0.007% for CTO and NaCTO, respectively. This abnormal piezoelectric behavior can be used to prepare composites with conventional oxide materials that generally exhibit positive piezoelectricity. Mechanism of the negative piezoelectricity effect was ascribed to its special quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) crystal structure with weak van der Waals (vdW) layers alternating with covalent layers.     

Effects of ZrO2 on the photoluminescence of 0.5 at% Eu:(Y0.9La0.1)2O3 transparent ceramics

Zr-codoped 0.5 at% Eu: (Y_0.9La_0.1)₂O₃ ceramics sintered in H₂-reducing atomsphere, together with the ceramics with annealing treatment, were fabricated by solid-state reactions and the effects of Zr codoping on these materials’ photoluminescence examined. The obtained emission spectra showed that Zr codoping adjust the materials’ photoluminescence with UV excitation and a logical explanation was proposed. The results suggested that an Eu-doped, yttrium-lanthanum oxide transparent ceramic with Zr in low concentration appeared to have promising potential in modern lighting applications.     

Influence of sintering additives on densification kinetics and high‐temperature strength in γ‐Y2Si2O7 ceramics

Pressureless sintering of pure γ‐Y₂Si₂O₇ powders that had been synthesized by a solid‐liquid reaction method using Y₂O₃ and SiO₂ powders with Li₂O, MgO, and Al₂O₃ additives was reported. The sintering kinetics of γ‐Y₂Si₂O₇ powders was analyzed to track details of densification evolution. Apparent activation energies of the densification of γ‐Y₂Si₂O₇ powders were reported for the first time, which was 57.1, 96.6, and 100.2 kJ/mol for the powders with Li₂O, MgO, and Al₂O₃ additives, respectively, indicating that Li₂O could promote the densification behavior effectively. The flexural strengths as a function of temperature for the γ‐Y₂Si₂O₇ ceramics with different additives were also investigated. The degradation of high‐temperature flexural strength was mainly ascribed to the softening of grain‐boundary glassy phase. γ‐Y₂Si₂O₇ specimens fabricated using the powders with MgO or Al₂O₃ additives exhibited better high‐temperature mechanical properties.     

Temperature‐insensitive strain behavior in 0.99[(1−x)Bi0.5(Na0.80K0.20)0.5TiO3−xBiFeO3]–0.01Ta lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead‐free 0.99[(1?x)Bi_0.5(Na_0.80K_0.20)_0.5TiO₃?xBiFeO₃]–0.01Ta (BNKT20–100xBF–1Ta) lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated through conventional solid state sintering method. Results showed that change of BF content in the BNKT20–100xBF–1Ta induced a phase transition from ferroelectric to ergodic relaxor phase with a significant disruption of the long‐range ferroelectric order. A large electric‐field‐induced strain of 0.36% (at 80 kV/cm driving field, corresponding to a large signal of ~450 pm/V) which is derived from a reversible field‐induced ergodic relaxor to ferroelectric phase transformation, was obtained in the composition with x=0.01 near the ferroelectric‐ergodic relaxor phase boundary. Moreover, an attractive property for application in nonlinear actuators demanding enhanced thermal stability was obtained in this material, which showed a temperature‐insensitive strain characteristic in the temperature range from room temperature to 100°C.     

Photochromism-induced light scattering and photoswithing in Er doped (K,Na)NbO3 transparent ceramics

The (K_0.5Na_0.5)_0.95Li_0.05Nb_0.95Bi_0.05O₃-1mol% Er₂O₃ transparent ceramics were prepared by a pressureless sintering method. The fabricated transparent ceramics not only exhibit high optical transmittance (85.3%) due to dense microstructure (nanoscale size grains), but also show the photochromism-induced light scattering and reversible upconversion (UC)-switching properties by visible light irradiation. Upon 407 nm light irradiation, the optical transmittance intensity is significantly decreased, showing a strong light scattering (ΔAbs = 28.3%). The light scatting degree can be quantitatively reflected by Er³⁺ ion UC emission, and could be recovered to its initial optical transmittance based on photochromic reactions. Meanwhile, the transparent ceramic is found to maintain good energy storage properties with higher W (5.87 J/cm³) and W_rec (1.96 J/cm³) under a higher electric field of 260 kV/cm. These results suggest that Er³⁺ doped (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ transparent ceramics are promising for the modulation of light scattering and the design of photoelectric multifunction devices.     

Fast one-step carbothermal reduction and nitridation method using nano-sized Al2O3 and carbon black to prepare aluminium oxynitride powder for highly transparent ceramics

By fast heating the nano-sized Al₂O₃ and carbon black mixtures at 50°C/min to 1750°C for 30–120 min, single-phase AlON powders were successfully obtained by a fast one-step carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) method. The AlON ceramics pressureless sintered at 1880°C for 150 min by these powders show high transmittances up to 83%–84%, which indicates that the proposed fast one-step CRN method is an effective and efficient way with strong robustness to synthesize single-phase AlON powder for highly transparent AlON ceramics. It was found that α-Al₂O₃ particles do not have enough time to aggregate and coalesce during heating due to the tremendously shortened heating span, which significantly inhibited particle coarsening until the formation of AlON starts. The fast-formed AlON further inhibits the coarsening of α-Al₂O₃ during dwelling. Consequently, single-phase AlON powder of small primary particles can be obtained after 30 min dwelling at 1750°C.     

淀粉燃料对多孔Al_2O_3-ZrO_2(Y_2O_3)陶瓷性能的影响

为了提高多孔Al2O3-ZrO2(Y2O3)陶瓷的强度,以尿素和淀粉为燃料,用低温燃烧法合成活性较高的Al2O3-ZrO2(Y2O3)复合粉体,并用此粉体制备了多孔Al2O3-Zr O2(Y2O3)陶瓷,研究燃烧前驱体中淀粉的外加量(质量分数分别为0、15%、25%、35%、45%、55%)对多孔陶瓷显气孔率、抗折强度和显微结构的影响。结果表明:与尿素为燃料相比,以尿素和淀粉为燃料能提高复合粉体的烧结活性,有效改善多孔陶瓷的显微结构,提高多孔陶瓷的抗折强度。     

Binary transparent (Ho1-xDyx)2O3 ceramics: Compositional influences on particle properties,sintering kinetics and Faraday magneto-optical effects

Binary transparent magneto-optical (Ho_1-xDy_x)₂O₃ (x = 0.01–1) ceramics derived from layered rare-earth hydroxide (LRH) compounds were fabricated by vacuum sintering. They have in-line transmittances of ～67?77 % at the visible wavelength of 700 nm and ～77?84 % at the mid-infrared wavelength of 5 μm with similar maximal infrared cut-off at ～9.5 μm. The impacts of Dy³⁺ doping on particle properties, sintering kinetics and Faraday magneto-optical effects were systematically investigated. The results show that (1) The LRH precursors exhibit the nanosheet morphology with the thickness of ～6?10 nm. Dy³⁺ incorporation not only induces an expansion for the hydroxide host layer but also a contracted interlayer distance; (2) Upon calcination at 1100 °C, the LRH nanosheets collapse into sphere-like oxide particles. The addition of Dy³⁺ leads to increasing lattice constants and decreasing theoretical densities for the (Ho,Dy)₂O₃ solid solutions; (3) A smaller bandgap energy for Dy₂O₃ (～4.85 eV) was obtained relative to those of (Ho_0.9Dy_0.1)₂O₃ (～5.24 eV) and Ho₂O₃ (～5.31 eV); (4) Dy³⁺ dopant promotes grain growth and the pure Dy₂O₃ bulk has a rather smaller grain-boundary-diffusion controlled activation energy (～457 kJ/mol) than the (Ho_0.9Dy_0.1)₂O₃ counterpart (～626 kJ/mol); (5) The Verdet constants of magneto-optical (Ho_1-xDy_x)₂O₃ ceramics generally linearly increase with the rise of Dy³⁺ concentration.