| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1616766 | Journal of Alloys and Compounds | 2011 | 5 Pages |
Nd:Lu3Al5O12 (Nd:LuAG) nano-crystalline was synthesized by co-precipitation method. Its phase transformation, structure, absorption and photoluminescence properties were studied. The Nd:LuAG polycrystalline phase is formed above 900 °C and its particle sizes are in the range of 18–36 nm. The structure of Nd:LuAG was refined by Rietveld method. The lattice parameters and the distortion of Lu3+–O2− polyhedron in Nd:LuAG are larger than that of in pure LuAG. Because the distortion of Lu3+–O2− polyhedron is larger than that of Y3+–O2− polyhedron in YAG and the distance of Lu3+–O2− is smaller than that of Y3+–O2− in YAG, Nd3+ in LuAG experiences a stronger crystal field effect, which is proved by the crystal field strength and the chemical environment parameter. The absorption spectrum shows that Nd:LuAG has a broad absorption band at 808 nm with FWHM above 6 nm, which is favorable for improving laser efficiency. The fluorescence lifetime from 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition is 320 μs and longer than that of Nd:YAG. The longer lifetime is propitious to energy storage. The emission cross section at 1064 nm is 2.89 × 10−19 cm2, taking into account the Boltzmann distribution of the excited state. The emission cross section in Nd:LuAG is also larger than that of Nd:YAG, which is useful for laser operation. All results indicate that Nd:LuAG is a promising crystal material to apply in high energy lasers.
► Nd:Lu3Al5O12 (Nd:LuAG) nano-crystalline was synthesized by co-precipitation method, its polycrystalline phase can be formed above 900 °C and its structure was refined by Rietveld method. ► From the point of structure, studies on the difference of crystal field interaction between Nd:LuAG and Nd:YAG were carried out. ► Compared with Nd:YAG, Nd:LuAG has broader absorption FWHM at 808 nm, longer fluorescence lifetime and larger emission cross section.
