High performance of La-doped Y2O3 transparent ceramics

Abstract As an optical material, Y 2 O 3 transparent ceramics are desirable for application as laser host materials. However, it is difficult to sinter and dense of Y 2 O 3 hinders the preparation of high-quality optical ceramics via traditional processes. In this work, we use La 2 O 3 as a sintering aid for fabricating high-transparency Y 2 O 3 ceramics using a vacuum sintering process. It is demonstrated that the in-line optical transmittance of 15.0 at% La-doped Y 2 O 3 at a wavelength of 1100 nm achieves a transmittance of 81.2%. A sintering kinetics analysis reveals that a grain-boundary-diffusion-controlled mechanism dominates the faster densification at high La 3+ concentrations. It is also shown that both the mechanical and thermal properties of Y 2 O 3 transparent ceramics are significantly improved upon the increase of La 2 O 3 sintering additives. The results indicate that a La-doped Y 2 O 3 transparent ceramic is a promising candidate for a laser host material.