Fabrication and Photoluminescence Characteristics of Eu ³⁺ ‐Doped Lu ₂ O ₃ Transparent Ceramics

Abstract

A novel co‐precipitation process was adopted for the preparation of highly sinterable europium‐doped lutetia powders using ammonium hydroxide (NH 3 ·H 2 O) and ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH 4 HCO 3 ) as the mixed precipitant. The resultant powders calcined at 1000°C for 2 h showed good dispersity and excellent sinterability. Highly transparent polycrystalline lutetia ceramics with a relative density of ∼99.9% were fabricated by pressureless sintering in flowing H 2 atmosphere at 1850°C for 6 h without any additives. The average grain sizes of the transparent material were estimated to be 50–60 μm. Optical in‐line transmittance in the visible wavelength region for Lu 2 O 3 ceramics (1 mm in thickness) reached 80%. The luminescence and decay behavior of the obtained transparent plate and the corresponding nanophosphors were also investigated.