Nanopowders M₂O₃ (M = Y, La, Yb, Nd) with spherical particles and laser ceramics based on them

Abstract

We have considered the problems of agglomeration of yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) nanopowders prepared by chemical co-precipitation of precursors from aqueous solutions and subsequent calcination. To fabricate YAG and Y2O3 laser ceramic samples with high optical transmittance and reproducible characteristics, we have developed a method for producing non-agglomerated nanopowders of pure and doped Y2O3 by homogeneous chemical precipitation. Nanopowders Y2O3 with La and Yb as well as mixtures of Y2O3 : Nd and several commercial nanopowders of aluminium oxide have been compacted; optimised compacting technique have been selected; ceramic samples (Y, La, Yb)2O3 and YAG : Nd with high optical transmittance at a wavelength of 1 mm have been produced by solid-phase synthesis.