The influence of scandium cations on the properties of YSAG:Sm3+ ceramics

Abstract

YSAG:Sm3+ oxide powders, along with YAG:Sm as a reference material, were synthesized using a chemical precipitation method. The samarium content was fixed at 5 at%, while the scandium content varied from 0 to 50 at% in both the dodecahedral and octahedral sites. The sintering kinetics, microstructure, thermophysical properties, and optical characteristics of the samples were investigated. Results indicated that 50 at% scandium substitution in the octahedral site shifts the absorption peak corresponding to the 6H5/2 → 6F9/2 transition toward the blue region of the spectrum, thereby increasing absorption at the YAG:Nd laser emission wavelength of 1064 nm from 2.9 to 5.1 cm−1. Despite this notable advantage, the composition {Y2.70Sc0.15Sm0.15}[Sc1Al1]Al3O12 exhibited a 25.1 % reduction in thermal conductivity compared to YAG:Sm. Additionally, the coefficient of thermal expansion of YSAG:Sm ceramics was higher than that of YAG:Sm. It was confirmed that YSAG:Sm3+ ceramics are promising candidates for use as absorbing cladding in YAG:Nd lasers.