Identification of Cr valence states in Cr and Nd co-doped Lu3Al5O12 laser ceramics

Cr and Nd co-doped laser ceramics, as the potential gain materials in inertial confinement fusion (ICF), have been widely investigated. And the study on valence states of chromium ions is important. The effects of sintering additives and annealing atmosphere on the valence state of chromium were studied in detail, and the results shown that the Cr valence states were demonstrated to be Cr2+ and Cr3+ ions in HIP-sintered Cr(0.2 at.%), Nd(0.8 at.%): LuAG laser ceramics. And the intensity of the near-infrared absorption band caused by Cr2+ ions was attenuated with the decreasing SiO2 concentration and increasing MgO amount. The near-infrared absorption could be eliminated by annealing in air. And the transformation of valence states of Cr ions in the Cr,Nd:LuAG ceramics were also confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.