Radiation induced synthesis of powder yttrium aluminium garnet

Yttrium–aluminium garnet powders were prepared from aqueous solutions containing yttrium nitrate and aluminium chloride or nitrate via irradiation with accelerated electrons or UV light and via consequent calcination of formed solid phase. UV light seems to be more convenient for yttrium–aluminium garnet preparation; both types of irradiation yield crystalline Y3Al5O12 phase after 1 h calcination at 1000 °C in air, but some amounts of yttrium oxide and aluminium oxide were also detected in calcinated solid phase formed under accelerated electrons irradiation. Preliminary radioluminescence and thermoluminescence measurements were performed to further evaluate prepared materials. Intensive radioluminescence typical for Ce3+ doped structure was observed; thermoluminescence glow curves show distinctive peaks at 135–140 and 240–250 °C.

► YAG and YAG:Ce were synthesized via irradiation of aqueous solutions of precursors. ► Ionizing and/or non-ionizing radiation were used for the synthesis. ► Calcination for 1 h at 1000 °C leads to well developed crystalline YAG phase. ► Synthesized powder YAG consists of 50 nm nanocrystals. ► The best prepared materials have very intensive radioluminescence.