Vacuum sintering of Yb2O3 transparent ceramics: Effect of ZrO2 concentration on structural and optical properties

In this study, highly transparent Yb2O3 ceramics were successfully fabricated via vacuum sintering at 1800 degrees C for 10 h with ZrO2 as a sintering additive. The effect of zirconia doping concentration on crystal structure, microstructure, and optical properties of Yb2O3 transparent ceramics was investigated. It was found that the introduction of zirconia could effectively prohibit grain growth while promoting the removal of residual pores. The mean grain size decreased from 39.04 mu m to 4.27 mu m as the Zr4+ content increased from 0 to 5 at%. The 3 at% ZrO2-doped Yb2O3 transparent ceramics have the best optical quality, with a transmittance of 75% at 1100 nm and about 81% in the mid-infrared region. This study indicates that Yb2O3 transparent ceramics with good optical properties can be obtained by properly adjusting the addition amount of ZrO2. On this basis, the absorption spectra, emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetime of Yb2O3 transparent ceramic were investigated. High transmittance and high activation cation density make Yb2O3 transparent ceramics potential candidates for thin-disk laser elements. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, highly transparent Yb2O3 ceramics were successfully fabricated with zirconia doping, which effectively inhibited grain growth and improved optical properties. The research also investigated the absorption spectra, emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetime of Yb2O3 transparent ceramic, indicating its potential application in thin-disk laser elements.