Co-precipitation synthesis and vacuum sintering of Nd:YAG powders for transparent ceramics

• The Nd:YAG nanopowders were synthesized by a modified co-precipitation method.
• The in-line transmittances of the Nd:YAG ceramics reached 83.9% (1064 nm).
• The highly sinterable nanopowders and lower heating rates are effective approaches.

The Nd:YAG nanopowders were synthesized at 800–1300 °C via a modified co-precipitation method. Nd:YAG transparent ceramics were fabricated by vacuum sintering at 1770–1790 °C for 20 h with heating rates 1–10 °C/min. The effects of calcining temperatures of highly sinterable Nd:YAG nanopowders, sintering temperature and heating rate on microstructure and transmittance of Nd:YAG ceramics have been investigated. After calcination at 1250 °C for 4 h, Nd:YAG nanopowders with primary particle size of about 106 nm and low agglomeration were obtained. Using as prepared powders, high optical quality Nd:YAG ceramics prepared at 1780 °C with dwell time of 20 h and heating rate at 1 °C/min have been obtained and shows the in-line transmittance reached 83.9% (1064 nm). With 17.6 W of maximum absorbed pump power, laser output of 4.5 W has been obtained with an oscillation threshold and a slope efficiency of 0.5 W and 25.6%.

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