Characterizations of a hot-pressed Er and Y codoped CaF2 transparent ceramic

In this work, Er:CaF2 transparent ceramic codoped with non-active ions (Y3+ ions) was fabricated by hot-pressed (HP) sintering method. Er and Er/Y codoped CaF2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple coprecipitation method, the phase composition and the shape of obtained nanoparticles were analysed by X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Fluorite transparent ceramics were fabricated by HP sintering method at a temperature of 800 °C. For 2 mm thickness ceramic samples, the optical transmission of Er, Y:CaF2 transparent ceramic in the near-infrared range reached about 90%, and the optical transmission of Er, Y:CaF2 transparent ceramic was much higher than Er:CaF2 ceramic sample. Microstructures were characterized using SEM analysis, the two ceramic samples exhibited nearly pore-free microstructure and the average grain sizes were less than 1.0 μm. The absorption, upconversion and infrared emission spectras of ceramic samples were also measured and discussed.