Fabrication and characterization of transparent sesquioxide laser ceramics

• Main Author: Yin, Danlei
• Other Authors: Tang Dingyuan
• Format: Thesis-Doctor of Philosophy
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/137215
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Sesquioxide transparent ceramics such as Y2O3, Lu2O3, and Sc2O3, have been considered as promising host materials for high powder solid-state lasers. To meet the laser applications requirements, porosity of the ceramics must be minimized to less than 0.01%. Densification of ceramics is closely related to quality of powders, sintering additives and sintering techniques. In the present research, comprehensive studies regarding to the powder synthesis, sintering additive behavior and sintering controls were conducted. It was found that dispersants have great influence on the morphology and dispersity of both precursors and calcined powders in the chemical co-precipitation process. The utilization of spraying technique provided another way to reduce agglomerations and enhance the sinterability of the powders. At the optimized calcination temperature and sintering conditions, the transparency of sesquioxide ceramics were greatly improved by using the well dispersed powders. Moreover, the role of aliovalent sintering additives, CaO and CaO-ZrO2, in the Y2O3 ceramic densification were explored.