Fabrication of highly porous Y2O3:Ho,Yb ceramic and its thermometric applications

Highly porous Y2O3:Ho,Yb ceramic with relative high compressive strength was successfully fabricated by using NaF as pore-forming agent for the first time. The porosity, pore size, compressive strength and temperature-dependent upconversion luminescence of the as-fabricated porous Y2O3: Ho,Yb ceramic were investigated in detail. It was found that the open porosity and compressive strength of the as-fabricated porous Y2O3: Ho, Yb ceramic were 43.12% and 28.53 MPa, respectively, and the pore size was 4-8 mu m. Under 980 nm excitation, the upconversion luminescence intensity ratio (I-550/I-665) of the 550 nm and 665 nm emissions varied from 8.10 to 4.63 with the temperature increasing from 293 K to 873 K. Porous Y2O3: Ho, Yb ceramic with such properties could be applied to ultra-high temperature ceramic structures for space application, luminescent probes and temperature sensors. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.