Polymer-salt synthesis and study on structure of vanadium-doped yttrium-aluminum garnet

Abstract

Nanoscaled YAG:V powders were synthesized using low-temperature polymer-salt method. A comparison of their structure with monocrystals structure was performed. Structure, morphology and chemical composition of materials were studied using XRD, SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Estimation of average sizes of nanocrystals and crystal cell parameters was performed based on XRD data. The results were compared with the results obtained earlier for YAG:V monocrystals. Nanopowders synthesized at 1000 °C consist from microscopic aggregates of YAG:V nanocrystals with average size of 43 nm and crystal structure characteristic for YAG monocrystals. It was found that V3+ incorporation and their substitution of aluminum ions leads to distortion of crystal cell. It was shown that this phenomenon is observed both in YAG:V monocrystals and nanopowders synthesized using low-temperature polymer-salt method. The infrared spectroscopy data shows the similarity of the monocrystal and nanopowders structure. Obtained powders can be applied for fabrication of light-absorbing optical ceramics and organo-inorganic composites.

Keywords

• yttrium-aluminum garnet
• vanadium
• crystal
• unit cell
• nanopowder