Highly transparent Yb:Y2O3 ceramics obtained by solid-state reaction and combined sintering procedures

Abstract (Y 0.87-x La 0.1 Zr 0.03 Yb x ) 2 O 3 (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.05) transparent ceramics were obtained by solid-state reaction and combined sintering procedures with La 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 as sintering additives. A method based on two-step intermediate sintering in air followed by vacuum sintering was applied in order to control the densification and grain growth of the samples during the final sintering process. The results indicate that La 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 co-additives can improve the microstructure and optical properties of Yb:Y 2 O 3 ceramics at relatively low sintering temperature. On the other hand, the addition of Zr 4+ ions leads to the formation of dispersed scattering volumes in the ceramic bodies. Transmittance of 78.8% was measured for the 2.0 at% Yb:Y 2 O 3 ceramic sample at the wavelength of 1100 nm. The spectroscopic properties of Yb:Y 2 O 3 ceramics were investigated at room temperature. The obtained results show that the absorption cross-section at 978 nm is in the range of 2.08 × 10 –20 to 2.36 × 10 –20 cm 2 , whereas the emission cross-section at 1032 nm is ~1.0 × 10 –20 cm 2 .