A study on the effect factors of sol-gel synthesis of yttrium aluminum garnet nanopowders

Abstract

Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) nanopowders were synthesized by sol-gel method using aluminum nitrate, yttrium nitrate, and citric acid as starting materials, de-ionized water, ethanol, and ethylene glycol as solvents, respectively. The phase formation process, state of particle size distribution (PSD), compositions, morphological characteristics, and thermal behavior of the powders were investigated by means of x-ray diffractometry, PSD, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electronic microscope, and thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry. Results indicate that the formation and characteristics of precursor gel and YAG powder, such as the rate of gelation, average particle size, and powder agglomerate state, strongly depend on the stoichiometric amount of citric acid, the solvent composition, and the precalcination process. Highly crystalline, well-dispersed YAG nanopowder was obtained by calcining at 800 °C for 2 h in the presence of citric acid to nitrate ratio of 3, ethanol solvent, and precalcination process. According to the analysis of experimental results, sol-gel chemistry, DLVO theory, and steric effect, the effects of stoichiometric amount of citric acid, solvent composition, and precalcination process on the formation and characteristics of precursor gel and YAG powder have been discussed. Meanwhile, the overall synthesis mechanism in sol-gel method has been suggested.