Structure and Luminescence Properties of Ho:(Y1-xScx)2O3 Ceramics

Ho-doped sesquioxide is one of the most important laser gain media for 2 micron wavelength band laser applications. It is hard to be transparent by sintering because of its high melting point. Herein, the structural and spectral properties of 0.5 at% Ho:(Y1-xScx)(2)O-3 (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0) ceramics fabricated by vacuum pressureless sintering are studied. Then, 0.5 at% Ho:(Y0.7Sc0.3)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics with 1.0 at% ZrO2 as a sintering aid are prepared by vacuum pressureless presintering (1680 degrees C for 4 h) combined with hot isostatic pressing sintering treatment (1600 degrees C/190 MPa for 3 h). The transmittance of Ho:(Y0.7Sc0.3)(2)O-3 ceramic reaches 80.8% at 1100 nm (6 mm in thickness), which is close to its theoretic value. The addition of ZrO2 has no significant influence on spectroscopic properties of 0.5 at% Ho:(Y0.7Sc0.3)(2)O-3 ceramics.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the importance of Ho-doped sesquioxide as a laser gain medium for 2 micron wavelength band laser applications, along with the structural and spectral properties of the material. Transparent ceramics with high transmittance were successfully prepared using specific methods. The addition of ZrO2 did not significantly affect the spectroscopic properties of the ceramics.