The yttrium aluminum garnet (Y_3Al_5O_(12) or YAG) is one of the best-known synthetic garnets which by doping with different metal ions can be used in applications in increasingly various fields, from jewelry to optoelectronics, from biotechnologies to the aerospace area. Under strict control of composition and morphology, sintering of cerium trivalent ions doped YAG was attempted, using different molecular species, both inorganic and organic, as precursors, but for applications in emitting optoelectronics there was only the solid state process method with industrial applicability. This paper describes a modified solid state process that involves the sintering at maximum 1400°C of the Y_2O_3, Al and CeO_2 type raw materials, as well as the replacement of the milling steps in mills for grinding with ultra-sonication steps of powder dispersed in a mixture of DMSO:ethanol. The transition from the amorphous to the crystalline phase was observed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results show the phase evolution and FUR spectrometry confirms the formation of M-O bonds and the presence of doping ions. Nano structured particles and polyhedral shape with rounded edges were observed by SEM microscopy. The utility and applicability of the developed solid state method has been confirmed by photoluminescence studies showing the production of a phosphor that can be integrated into white light emission systems.
展开▼
