Fabrication and characterization of highly transparent Yb3+: Y2O3 ceramics

Highly transparent Yb3+ doped Y2O3 (Yb3+: Y2O3) ceramics was fabricated by a solid-state reaction method using ZrO2 and La2O3 as additives. The morphology of the prepared powder was investigated and the phase of the sintered Yb3+: Y2O3 ceramics sample was identified. The microstructure, transmittance spectrum, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness for the as-sintered Yb3+: Y2O3 ceramics were measured. The average grain size was about 9.11 μm and the transmittance at the wavelength of 2000 nm was about 82.0%, which was 99% of the theoretical value. ZrO2 and La2O3 were useful additives for highly transparent Yb3+: Y2O3 ceramics fabrication and mechanical properties improvement.