Synthesis of nanostructured Nd:Y2O3 powders by carbonate-precipitation process for Nd:YAG ceramics

Neodymium doped yttria (Nd:Y2O3) nanopowders were synthesized by a co-precipitation method, and the effect of thermal decomposition behavior of the precursors were studied. Nonlinear and linear heating schedules (NHS and LHS) were adopted during the calcination processes. The results show that as compared to the LHS the NHS can not only lower the crystallization temperature substantially, but also decrease the mean particle size and lighten the particle agglomeration in the obtained Nd:Y2O3 nanopowders. Using the obtained well-dispersed Nd:Y2O3 and commercial Al2O3 powders, transparent Nd:YAG ceramics were fabricated at 1750 °C in vacuum. Better transparency can be obtained by using the Nd:Y2O3 powders calcined in the NHS instead of the LHS.