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Investigation of Er-doped Sc2O3 transparent ceramics by positron annihilation spectroscopy

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Abstract

0.25 at.% Er-doped Sc2O3 transparent ceramics fabricated using the two-step sintering method with different combinations of sintering temperatures were investigated by positron annihilation spectroscopy. Analysis of the broadening of the annihilation photopeak revealed the presence of the same type of defect in all samples. The lack of long lifetimes (τ ≥ 2 ns) suggested no positronium formation or the lack of trapping sites large enough to trap positronium for long enough time for the annihilation to be observed. Analysis of positron annihilation lifetime revealed the presence of a single lifetime that ranged from 208 to 219 ps, depending on the sintering conditions. These results also suggest the absence of a significant presence of vacancy clusters and other larger open-volume defects, and that the dominant open-volume defect corresponds to monovacancies and/or complex defects associated with monovacancies. The bulk lifetime of Er-doped scandia is estimated to be equal or lower than 208 ps.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Technology Office through their High Energy Laser Multidisciplinary Research Initiative (HEL-MRI) Program for Project ‘‘Eye-Safe Polycrystalline Lasers’’ AFOSR Contract # FA9550-07-1-0566. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1207080.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    L. G. Jacobsohn & J. Ballato

  2. Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Anderson, SC, 29625, USA

    L. G. Jacobsohn & J. Ballato

  3. Research Unit of Advanced Ceramics, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    K. Serivalsatit

  4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA

    C. A. Quarles

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  1. L. G. Jacobsohn
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  2. K. Serivalsatit
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Correspondence to L. G. Jacobsohn.

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Jacobsohn, L.G., Serivalsatit, K., Quarles, C.A. et al. Investigation of Er-doped Sc2O3 transparent ceramics by positron annihilation spectroscopy. J Mater Sci 50, 3183–3188 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8881-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8881-8

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