High-Purity Nanopowders for Laser Applications. (16th May 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ganta, Deepak; Venugopal, Ganesh; Hunt, Andrew T.; Sapp, Michael
• Other Names: Chen C.-C. Academic Editor.; Obraztsov A. N. Academic Editor.; Patra A. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN nanotechnology. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-05-16
• Subjects: Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.5402/2012/608756
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6064

Abstract

Abstract : We have successfully developed high-quality laser-grade yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), and lutetium oxide (Lu2 O3 ), using a novel combustion chemical vapor condensation (CCVC) technique based on a proprietary NanoSpray Combustion process. The purity of the nanopowders was >99%. Nanopowders with different dopants have been synthesized over a 10–200 nm size range, with low-cost, high-purity precursors that are viable for large-scale production. Great strides have also been made in developing highly dense (>99% theoretical density) polycrystalline Nd-doped YAG pellets using vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing (HIP). This method is an alternative to the Czochralski method for making single-crystal ceramic bodies, which has several disadvantages including high cost, size, shape restrictions, and limitations in Nd concentrations ( ∼ 1 at %). Nanomaterials also enable higher percentages of Nd to be incorporated into the YAG lattice which improves laser efficiency and >85% near IR transmission, thereby reducing scattering losses associated with larger grain-size polycrystalline materials.