Luminescence properties of YAG:Nd 3+ nano-sized ceramic powders via co-microemulsion and microwave heating

Abstract

Nano-sized ceramic powders with weaker aggregation of Nd 3+-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Nd 3+) were synthesized via co-microemulsion and microwave heating. This method provides a limited small space in a micelle for the formation of nano-sized precursors. It also requires a very short heating time, thus reducing energy consumption in comparison with conventional solid-state sintering processes. As a result, small-sized particles with narrow size distribution, weaker aggregation and high purity were obtained. Powder X-ray diffraction results revealed that the structure of pure YAG:Nd 3+ nanoparticles was cubic garnet. Transmission electron microscopy results indicated that the synthesized particles were almost spherical with average diameters of 40 and 80 nm. The luminescent properties of YAG:Nd 3+ were investigated through PL. Under excitation at 488 nm, YAG:Nd 3+ nanosized ceramic powders showed main emission bands of 1045-1080 nm because of 4 F 3/2 → 4I 11/2 transitions that are identical to those observed for a single YAG:Nd 3+ crystal.

Electrochemical characterization of TiNb2O7 as anode material synthesized using microwave‐assisted microemulsion route

“…According to the reports in literature, the microemulsion process can effectively reduce the particle sizes of the formed powders. [30][31][32][33] In the microemulsion process, the thermodynamically stable micelles are formed, and these micelles will serve as nano-reactors in the formed solution. These nano-reactors will restrict the grain growth of the prepared powders, and thereby resulting in the formation of the nanoparticles.…”

“…The lattice fringes were observed as 0.372 and 0.276 nm, which corresponded to (110) and ($$\bar 5$$11) planes of TiNb 2 O 7 , respectively. According to the reports in literature, the microemulsion process can effectively reduce the particle sizes of the formed powders 30–33 . In the microemulsion process, the thermodynamically stable micelles are formed, and these micelles will serve as nano‐reactors in the formed solution.…”