Sintering of Yb3+:Y2O3 transparent ceramics in hydrogen atmosphere

Highly transparent Yb3+:Y2O3 ceramics with doping concentration up to 40.0 at.% had been fabricated successfully via hydrogen atmosphere sintering, where the raw powders were synthesized by co-precipitation method. The sintering temperature is about 600 °C lower than its melting temperature. SEM investigation revealed the average grain size of Yb3+:Y2O3 ceramics sintered at 1850 °C for 9 h was about 7 μm. The highest transmittance of as-prepared 1 mm thickness samples around wavelength of 1050 nm reached 80%, which is close to the theoretical value of Y2O3. The optical spectroscopic properties of Yb3+:Y2O3 transparent ceramics have also been investigated, which shows that it is a very good laser material for diode laser pumping and short pulse mode-locked laser.