Preparation, Characterization and Magneto-Optical Properties of Sm-Doped Y2O3 Polycrystalline Material

• Published in: Micromachines (Basel) 2022-12, Vol.13 (12), p.2254
• Main Authors: Kruk, Andrzej, Ziewiec, Krzysztof
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; arc plasma melting; Ceramic powders; Ceramics; Electric arc melting; Lasers; Light; luminescence; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; magneto-optical properties; Optical measurement; Optical properties; Physical properties; Plasma sintering; Polycrystals; Radiation; Room temperature; Samarium; Software; Spectrum analysis; Symmetry; transparent ceramics; Verdet constant; X-rays; Y2O3; Yttrium oxide
• ISSN: 2072-666X; 2072-666X
• DOI: 10.3390/mi13122254

In this paper, physicochemical properties of pure Y2O3 and samarium (Sm)-doped Y2O3 transparent ceramics obtained via arc plasma melting are presented. Yttria powder with a selected molar fraction of Sm was first synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. High transparent yttria ceramics were obtained by arc plasma melting from both the pure and Sm oxide-doped powders. The morphological, chemical and physical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The optical band gap was calculated from the absorption spectra so as to understand the electronic band structure of the studied materials. Samples indicate a series of luminescence bands in the visible region after excitation by laser light in the range from 210 to 250 nm. Magneto-optical measurements were carried out in the 300–800 nm range at room temperature. It can be seen that a maximum Verdet constant ca. 24.81 deg/T cm was observed for 405 nm and this value decreases with increasing wavelength. The potential usefulness of the polycrystalline material dedicated to optics devices is presented.