Densification and luminescence properties of Nd:YAG transparent ceramics

Abstract Nd:YAG transparent ceramics were prepared by solid-state reaction and vacuum sintering. The structure of ceramic samples at various sintering temperatures was characterized and analyzed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy (Raman). The samples were sintered from 1500 °C to 1750 °C for 4 h to study their sintering behavior by scanning electron microscope (SEM). At the same time, the luminescence properties of ceramic samples sintered at 1750 °C for various times were analyzed by the photoluminescence spectra (PL). The results indicated that the relative density and the grain size increased with the increase of sintering temperature and time. The fluorescence intensity increased with the decrease of defect of ceramic samples.