Fabrication and XAFS analysis of Yb3+ doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics

• (YbxY0.90−xLa0.10)2O3 transparent ceramics were fabricated by solid-state reaction.
• The Dependence of the structure around Yb on Y2O3 content was researched by XAFS.
• The structural parameters of the first shell Yb–O were obtained by using FEFF program.

(YbxY0.90−xLa0.10)2O3 (x = 0.01–0.10) transparent ceramics were fabricated and their structural properties were investigated. The XRD showed our samples exhibited single cubic Y2O3 phase. The lattice parameters were refined with the Rietveld method. The compact structure and an average grain size of 40–50 μm were revealed by the microstructure. The local fine structure around Yb ions was investigated by using the XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) technique. The results showed that: the local structure around Yb ions in the samples with different concentration of Yb ions was basically similar, and Yb ions replaced Y position to form the solid solution. The Yb ions were trivalent. With the concentration of Yb2O3 increased, the coordination number (N) and first shell Yb–O bond length (R) decreased, and the degree of disorder (σ) increased.