Skip to main content
Log in

Fabrication and laser output of transparent Nd:YAG ceramics from microwave synthesized precursors

  • Published:
Rare Metals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report the laser output of transparent Nd:YAG (Nd:Y3Al5O12) ceramics fabricated from Nd:YAG precursors through the microwave-assisted homogenous precipitation (MAHP) method. Pure phase and uniform Nd:YAG nano-powders with average sizes less than 100 nm were obtained by heating treatment of the Nd:YAG precursor particles aged for 6 d in vessel with humidity of 30%–50% at 25°C. Transparent Nd:YAG ceramic pellets were obtained by vacuum sintering at 1730°C for 10 h. Laser output (305 mW) with a slope efficiency of 5.1% was realized through an end-pumped configuration. Our results indicate that the MAHP method could potentially be used for the fabrication of laser ceramic products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Carnall Jr E., Hatch S.E., and Parsons W.F., FR Patent, No. 1448145, 1966.

  2. Greskovich C. and Woods K.N., Fabrication of transparent ThO2-doped Y2O3, Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., 1973, 52(5): 473.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ikesue A., Kinoshita T., and Kamata K., Fabrication and optical properties of high-performance polycrystalline Nd:YAG ceramics for solid-state lasers, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1995, 78(4): 1033.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lu J., Murai T., Takaichi T., Uematsu T., and Ueda K., Nd3+:Y2O3 ceramic laser, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 2001, 40(2): L1277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yokoyama T., Single crystal for solid state laser material, Bull. Ceram. Soc. Jpn., 1988, 23(5): 461.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lu J., Prahu M., Xu J., Ueda K., Yagi H., Yanagitani T., and Kaminskii A.A., Highly efficient 2% Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic laser, Appl. Phys. Lett., 2000, 77(23): 3707.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yagi H., Yanagitani T., Takaichi K., Ueda K., and Kaminskii A.A., Characterizations and laser performances of highly transparent Nd3+:Y3Al5O12 laser ceramics, Opt. Mater., 2007, 29(10): 1258.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ikesue A. and Aung Y.L., Synthesis and performance of advanced ceramic lasers, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2006, 89(6): 1936.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lu J., Murai T., and Takaichi K., 72 W Nd:Y3Al5O12 ceramic laser, Appl. Phys. Lett., 2001, 78(23): 3586.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kaminskii A.A., Laser crystals and ceramics: recent advances, Laser Photon Rev., 2007, 1(2): 93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ikesue A., Frusta I., and Kamata K., Fabrication of polycrystal line, transparent YAG ceramics by a solid-state reaction method, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1995, 78(1): 225.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ikesue A., Taira T., and Sato Y., High-performance microchip lasers using polycrystalline Nd:YAG. ceramics, J. Ceram. Soc. Jpn., 2000, 108(4): 428.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pan Y., Xu J., and Wu Y., Fabrication and laser output of Nd:YAG transparent ceramic, J. Inorg. Mater., 2006, 21(5): 1278.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Librant Z., Jabczyński J.K., and Węglarz H., Preparation and characterization of transparent Nd:YAG ceramics, Opto-Electro. Rev., 2009, 17(1): 72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Li J., Wu Y., and Pan Y., Fabrication, microstructure and properties of highly transparent Nd:YAG laser ceramics, Opt. Mater., 2008, 31(1): 6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lee S., Jung D., Han J., Koo H., and Kang Y., Fine-sized Y3Al5O12:Ce phosphor powders prepared by spray pyrolysis from the spray solution with barium fluoride flux, J. Alloys. Compd., 2009, 477(1–2): 776.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lu J., Ueda K., and Yagi H., Neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12) nanocrystalline ceramics-a new generation of solid state laser and optical materials, J. Alloys. Compd., 2002, 341(1–2): 220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Yanagitani T., Yagi H., and Ichikawa M., Production of Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Fine Powder, Japanese patent, No. 10-101333, 1998.

  19. Yanagitani T., Yagi H., and Hiro Y., Production of Fine Powderof Yttrium Aluminum Garnet, Japanese patent, No. 10-101411, 1998.

  20. Wu Z., Zhang X., He W., Du Y., Jia N., Liu P., and Bu F., Solvothermal synthesis of spherical YAG powders via different precipitants, J. Alloys. Compd., 2009, 472(1–2): 576.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Saladino M.L., Nasillo G., Martino D.C., and Caponetti E., Synthesis of Nd:YAG nanopowder using the citrate method with microwave irradiation, J. Alloys. Compd., 2010, 491(1–2): 737.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Liu W., Zhang W., Li J., Kou H., Shen Y., Wang L., Shi Y., Zhang D., and Pan Y., Influence of pH values on (Nd+Y):Al molar ratio of Nd:YAG nanopowders and preparation of transparent ceramics, J. Alloys. Compd., 2010, 503(2): 525.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wen L., Sun X., Xiu Z., Chen S., and Tsai C.T., Synthesis of nanocrystalline yttria powder and fabrication of transparent YAG ceramics, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 2004, 24(9): 2681.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Jieqiang W. and Shaohua Z., Microwave synthesis of homogeneous YAG nanopowder leading to a transparent ceramic, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2009, 92(6): 1217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Muramatsu A. and Sugimoto T., Synthesis of uniform spherical Cu2O particles from condensed CuO suspensions, J. Colloid. Interface Sci., 1997, 189(1): 167.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sugimoto T., Preparation of monodispersed colloidal particles, J. Colloid. Interface Sci., 1987, 28: 65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang X., Liu D., Sang Y., Liu H., and Wang J., Effects of aging on the characteristics of Nd:YAG nano-powders, J. Alloys. Compd., 2010, 502(1): 206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Apetz R. and van Bruggen M.P.B., Transparent alumina: A light-scattering model, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2003, 86(3): 480.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Miyauchi K. and Toda G., Opto-Ceramics, Gihodo Publishers, Tokyo, 1984: 49.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Duo Liu or Jiyang Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, X., Liu, D., Wang, J. et al. Fabrication and laser output of transparent Nd:YAG ceramics from microwave synthesized precursors. Rare Metals 30, 607–615 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-011-0437-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-011-0437-8

Keywords

Navigation