The f–f Emission of Pr<SUP>3+</SUP> Ion as an Optical Probe for the Structural Properties of YAG Nanoceramics

Abstract

Transparent Pr-doped YAG nanoceramics composed of grains with an average size of about 42 nm, were fabricated with the Low Temperature High Pressure (LTHP) sintering technique using the corresponding nanopowders as the starting materials. The structure of the nanoceramics was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of the sintering conditions on the structural properties is discussed on the basis of the changes of the spectroscopic properties of Pr3+ ions. In particular, the intensities and decays of the emission transitions originating from the (3)P0 and (1)D2 levels are investigated and correlated with structural properties of the material, such as microstrains produced by the high-pressure process.

Spectroscopic properties of Yb3+-doped Y3Al5O12 nano-ceramics obtained under different sintering pressures

“…As it can be seen from luminescence decays analysis also the shape of recorded curves and the determined lifetimes are connected with the R.M.S micro-strains and generally with the structural distortion in the samples due to the high pressure effect. Similar behaviour was reported for Nd 3þ and Pr 3þ doped YAG nano-ceramics (Hreniak et al, 2009). Increasing strains were observed to increase both the width of the emission bands and to decrease the luminescence decay times.…”

Microstructure, optical, and scintillation characteristics of Pr3+ doped Lu3Al5O12 optical ceramics

“…32 Taking into account that the energy of 1 D 2 − 3 H 4 transition is about half of that of 5d 1 → 3 H 4 one, the redistribution of intensities related to 5d 1 → 4f and 4f-4f transition in Fig. 1 D 2 would be more sensitive than 3 P 0 to structure variations, 31,32 since the total radiative transition probability for 1 D 2 will be more affected based on the analysis of Judd-Ofelt theory.…”

Recent development of A2B2O7 system transparent ceramics

“…This method can be successfully applied for densification of nanocrystalline powders into transparent ceramics and is competitive to restrain the small grain www.springer.com/journal/40145 size in the product. For example, nanocrystalline MgAl 2 O 4 and YAG transparent ceramics [97,98] were fabricated by this method. For MgAl 2 O 4 nanocrystalline transparent ceramic, the optimal sintering condition has been determined to be around 620 ℃/3.7 GPa, and the average grain size was only about 61 nm.…”