Gels (Jun 2023)

Synthesis and Investigation of Novel Optical Active SiO<sub>2</sub> Glasses with Entrapped YAG:Ce Synthesized via Sol–Gel Method

  • Monika Skruodiene,
  • Meldra Kemere,
  • Greta Inkrataite,
  • Madara Leimane,
  • Rimantas Ramanauskas,
  • Ramunas Skaudzius,
  • Anatolijs Sarakovskis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9060488
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 6
p. 488

Abstract

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We present a crack-free optically active SiO2 glass-composite material containing YAG:Ce synthesized via a modified sol–gel technique. A glass-composite material consisting of yttrium aluminum garnet doped with Ce3+ (YAG:Ce) was entrapped into a SiO2 xerogel. This composite material was prepared using a sol–gel technique with modified gelation and a drying process to obtain crack-free optically active SiO2 glass. The concentration of the YAG:Ce was from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%. All synthesized samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, confirming their exceptional quality and structural integrity. The luminescence properties of the obtained materials were studied. Overall, the prepared samples’ excellent structural and optical quality makes them great candidates for further investigation, or even potential practical application. Furthermore, boron-doped YAG:Ce glass was synthesized for the first time.

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