A novel IR-transparent Ho3+:Y2O3–MgO nanocomposite ceramics for potential laser applications

Abstract The work is devoted to obtaining of transparent nanocomposite materials as low loss, highly thermally conductive materials for potential laser applications. We report Ho3+:Y2O3–MgO nanocomposite ceramics with excellent mechanical and optical properties by combining glycine-nitrate process and spark plasma sintering. Morphology, structural-phase state, infrared transmittance and luminescence depending on the holmium concentration (0–12 at.%) were studied for the first time. It was found that optical transmittance reaches 75%@6000 nm for 3 at.% Ho3+:Y2O3–MgO ceramics. The absorption cross-section at 1931 nm and the emission cross-section at 2118 nm were determined to be σabs = 0.51 × 10−20 cm2 and σem = 0.29 × 10−20 cm2, respectively. Based on the testing results of luminescent characteristics it was demonstrated that Ho3+:Y2O3–MgO nanocomposite is a promising material for high-power eye-safe lasers operating in the 2 μm wavelength range.