Abstract
As an optical material, Y2O3 transparent ceramics are desirable for application as laser host materials. However, it is difficult to sinter and dense of Y2O3 hinders the preparation of high-quality optical ceramics via traditional processes. In this work, we use La2O3 as a sintering aid for fabricating high-transparency Y2O3 ceramics using a vacuum sintering process. It is demonstrated that the in-line optical transmittance of 15.0 at% La-doped Y2O3 at a wavelength of 1100 nm achieves a transmittance of 81.2%. A sintering kinetics analysis reveals that a grain-boundary-diffusion-controlled mechanism dominates the faster densification at high La3+ concentrations. It is also shown that both the mechanical and thermal properties of Y2O3 transparent ceramics are significantly improved upon the increase of La2O3 sintering additives. The results indicate that a La-doped Y2O3 transparent ceramic is a promising candidate for a laser host material.
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Acknowledgements
This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51802142 and 50990302), Foundation of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee (Grant Nos. JCYJ20180302174439113 and JCYJ20180504170444967), and Basic Discipline Development Fund of Army Engineering University of PLA (Grant No. KYJBJQZL1905).
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Zhang, L., Yang, J., Yu, H. et al. High performance of La-doped Y2O3 transparent ceramics. J Adv Ceram 9, 493–502 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-020-0392-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-020-0392-7