Ce:YAG ceramics: The influence of the synthesis technology features on the luminescent and the optical properties

In this paper, we report on the dependence of the luminescent and the optical properties on the synthesis conditions of the transparent 0.1 at.% Ce:YAG and 1 at.% Ce:YAG ceramics. The ceramics were produced from the nanopowders with a diameter of about 10-15 nm by means of the laser method. The fundamental difference between the two described methods is in the synthesis of the main phase YAG: directly during the vacuum sintering (1 - the first method) and before the vacuum sintering (2 - the second method). For this purpose, the transparent samples (Ø10×2 mm) with the optical transmittance ranging from 58 to 82% at the wavelength of 600 nm were obtained. The first method was proven to be the most preferable in terms of the exact dosage of the dopant which gives the samples the best scintillation characteristics. In a point of fact atom of cerium can potentially leave the material at any or at a certain stage of the ceramics synthesis, reducing the total concentration of Ce 3+ in YAG. © 2018 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved