Spark plasma sintering of Sm3+ doped Y2O3 transparent ceramics for visible light lasers

Transparent Sm:Y2O3 ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of LiF additive and sintering temperature on the microstructure and optical transmittance of the Sm:Y2O3 ceramics were investigated. The optimal content of LiF additive and sintering temperature was found to be 0.3 wt% and 1500 ℃. The transmittance of Sm:Y2O3 ceramics with a thickness of 1.7 mm reached 75.3% at 609 nm, which is about 94% of the theoretical value. The average grain size of the sample was about 50 µm.