Effect of additives on optical characteristic of thulium doped yttria transparent ceramics

Tm:Y2O3 transparent ceramics were obtained by sintering at 1850 °C for 25 h. Effect of different dispersants and binders to the quality of ceramics were studied. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as dispersant. Mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glycerol were added as binders. Dispersants are useful to promote the optical properties of transparent ceramics dramatically. And binders can increase the transmittance in infrared range of ceramics, but it will decrease the transmittance in visible range. The 2 μm emission bands were observed under laser diode excitation at 780 nm in the doped sample with 1 at.% of Tm3+.