Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of YSAG:Nd3+transparent ceramics

Abstract

Optically transparent YSAGNd3+ceramics were fabricated from powders synthesized via chemical precipitation. These ceramics included solid solutions with a garnet structure containing 50 at% Sc3+ions at the dodecahedral sites, which are known to be unstable at high temperatures. The thermal behavior of the precursor powders during calcination was investigated using synchronous thermal analysis. The phase composition and lattice parameters were determined by X-ray diffraction. The influence of scandium cations’ preferred occupancy in the garnet crystal lattice on the morphology of YSAG:Nd3+powders and ceramics was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Transmission spectra were analyzed in relation to the temperature regimes applied during vacuum sintering of the ceramics. It was observed that varying the scandium concentration in the octahedral and dodecahedral sites caused a corresponding shift in the optimal sintering temperature. The luminescent properties of YSAG:Nd3+ceramics were investigated in detail. The energy-level structure of Nd3+ions in the YSAG matrix was characterized, and the effects of scandium concentration at the octahedral and dodecahedral sites on electron transition energies were identified. A Judd–Ofelt theoretical analysis was performed on the YSAG:Nd3+ceramics. These results highlight the potential of YSAG:Nd compositions for developing ceramic gain media in solid-state lasers.