Gd2O3 assisted densification of high quantity (Y, Gd)AG: Ce ceramic solid solutions and their luminescence characteristics

(Y, Gd)(3)Al5O12: Ce ((Y, Gd)AG: Ce) ceramic solid solutions with Gd3+ ions contents from 0 to 30 at% and Ce3+ ions content of 0.01 at% were successfully fabricated using a solid-state sintering method under vacuum. The microstructure evolution and optical quality as a function of Gd2O3 substitution in (Y, Gd)AG: Ce ceramic solid solutions were studied systematically. The as prepared ceramic solid solutions provided a dense structure (above 99.0%), with an optical transmittance of 66.7% at 1064 nm, and exhibited a white light (0.3216, 0.3437) emission. It was found that moderate amount of Gd2O3 could inhibit the grain growth while promote the densification of ceramic solid solutions, whose function was similar as sintering additive.