Nanostructured YAG and Er:YAG Powders Synthesized Via Glycine–Nitrate Technique for Optically Transparent Ceramics

Nanostructured precursors of yttria-alumina garnet powders have been synthesized using the glycine-nitrate technique. It was shown that the main characteristics of the powders are determined by the glycine/nitrate (G/N) molar ratio in the initial solution and the temperature of the heat treatment of the precursors. The maximum specific surface area of the powders was obtained for the G/N ratio of 0.4. Subsequently, the powders were subjected to mechanical treatment and sintering. The effects of the treatment conditions and the amount of the sintering additive (Sc2O3) on the properties of the resulting ceramics were studied using erbium-yttrium garnet (Er1,5Y1,5Al5O12) as an example. Ceramics with a transparency of approximately 70% were obtained at 1790 degrees C.