Sc3+, Zr4+ double ions optimization of 5 at.%Yb:Lu2O3 transparent ceramics by pressureless sintering in H2

Highly transparent ceramics of Zr 4+ and Sc 3+ ions co-doped 5 at.%Yb: Lu 2 O 3 were prepared by using wet-chemical precipitant method combined with pressureless sintering in flowing H 2 atmosphere, where Zr 4+ was induced as the sintering aid and Sc 3+ as the band regulators to realizing spectral broadening of Yb:Lu 2 O 3 . The microstructure, broad emission band, PL spectrum and optical properties of the Zr 4+ and Sc 3+ co-doped 5 at.%Yb:Lu 2 O 3 ceramic samples were investigated by SEM, XRD, PL spectrum and other characterization methods. The results indicate that the maxim FWHM of the excitation emission spectrum of Yb:(Lu X Sc 1-X ) 2 O 3 ceramic is 15 nm when x = 0.5. Furthermore, the incorporation of Zr 4+ at a doping concentration of 2 at.% alleviated the microstructural inhomogeneity of the Yb:(Lu 0.5 Sc 0.5 ) 2 O 3 ceramics and significantly reduced the grain size, resulting in high transparency of up to 81.2 % at 1200 nm wavelength. These findings demonstrate a great potential of this ceramic for applications in ultrafast short pulse laser media.