Highly transparent polycrystalline Gd2O3 ceramic attained via ZrO2 stabilization effect. Issue 11 (September 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yuan, Haifeng; Zhang, Cong; Lu, Kailei; Deng, Shiwei; Liang, Lexing; Duan, Junjing; Qi, Jianqi; Lu, Tiecheng
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 43:Issue 11(2023)
• Page Start: 4968
• Page End: 4975
• Publication Date: 2023-09
• Subjects: Gd2O3 transparent ceramics -- Phase transition -- Zirconia -- Optical properties; Ceramic materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Matériaux céramiques -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Ceramic materials; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2023.04.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2219

Abstract

Abstract: The transition from the cubic to monoclinic phase of Gd2 O3 at high temperatures poses a significant challenge to the preparation of transparent Gd2 O3 materials. In this work, we presented a straightforward yet effective method for fabricating transparent Gd2 O3 ceramics. Via ZrO2 stabilization effect for phase structure, highly transparent Gd2 O3 ceramics were successfully fabricated by vacuum sintering at 1850 °C for 8 h. The effect of different Zr (0 ∼ 13 at%) concentrations on phase transition, grain growth, fracture mode and optical properties of Gd2 O3 transparent ceramics was investigated. As the Zr content increases, the transition from the cubic (C) to monoclinic (M) phase is effectively suppressed, which is crucial for achieving Gd2 O3 transparent ceramics. Moreover, the results indicate that the addition of ZrO2 has a significant effect on grain growth by not only impeding the migration of grain boundaries but also affecting the phase composition. In addition, the 11 at% Zr-doped Gd2 O3 ceramic exhibits the best optical properties, of which transmittance is about 76% at 850 nm and about 80% in the 2.5 µm ∼ 6 µm mid-infrared range. This work provides an illustrative example for the development of other ceramics with phase transition. The obtained Zr-doped Gd2 O3 transparent ceramics with high optical quality are potential candidates for optical window, scintillator host and mid-infrared transmission materials.