Structural Investigations of Lu₂O₃ as Single Crystal and Polycrystalline Transparent Ceramic

Abstract

The X-ray single crystal structure determination of Lu2O3 sesquioxide and of polycrystalline transparent ceramic fabricated by the unconventional spark plasma sintering (SPS) method is presented for the first time. High quality single crystals of Lu2O3 samples were obtained by using both the micropulling-down (μ-PD) method and the laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique. The SPS method is promising for obtaining high-density ceramics with fine grains at a relatively low temperature within a short holding time. The structural characterizations helped to complete information about the cubic structure of Lu2O3 sesquioxide, not clear until now in the literature from only polycrystalline samples and has raised doubts among many researchers.

Nd3+-doped Lu2O3 transparent sesquioxide ceramics elaborated by the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. Part 1: Structural, thermal conductivity and spectroscopic characterization

“…Indeed, a special attention has been devoted to the characterization by XRD measurements of Lu 2 O 3 in the form of both single crystals and polycrystalline transparent ceramics [15]. It is worth to emphasize that this is the first time in the literature when experimental XRD patterns for the single crystal with the experimentally solved crystal structure are presented.…”

Spectroscopy of C3i and C2 sites of Nd3+-doped Lu2O3 sesquioxide either as ceramics or crystal

“…The O 2-anions occupy the 48 general positions. The X-ray single crystal structure determination of Lu 2 O 3 sesquioxide and of polycrystalline transparent ceramic fabricated by the unconventional spark plasma sintering (SPS) method was reported in [1].…”

“…However, it is extremely difficult to grow Lu 2 O 3 single crystal using conventional crystal growth methods because of its high melting point (2490 1C) [1]. It is much easier to fabricate Lu 2 O 3 into a ceramic structure since the sintering temperature is about 700 1C lower than its melting point, and no expensive crucible is required [2][3][4][5].…”

“…As a result, spectroscopic data of Nd 3 þ laser ions are needed in Lu 2 O 3 host, either as single crystal or as ceramics. Materials we have analyzed and compared are either Nd 3 þ -doped Lu 2 O 3 single crystals grown by the m-Pulling Down method [1] or Nd 3 þ -doped Lu 2 O 3 ceramics fabricated by the non-conventional method Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) [5] for which we have also shown laser outputs [6]. The main goal of this article is to compare the spectroscopic data of Nd 3 þ ions occupying C 3i and C 2 sites of the sesquioxide structure not only in Nd 3 þ -doped Lu 2 O 3 ceramics as recently reported [5] but also in Nd 3 þ -doped Lu 2 O 3 single crystals.…”

Novel synthesis, characterization and optical properties of Lu2O3 deposited by electrochemical method

“…The atom coordinates were exported from [25]. The refined lattice parameters are: a=b=c= 10.35ű0.01.…”