固相反应烧结法制备Nd:LuAG透明陶瓷

Nd:LuAG transparent ceramics fabricated by solid-state reactive sintering

  • 摘要: 高重复频率的高能固体激光器的应用对增益介质的光学、机械和热力学性能以及饱和通量适配性提出了较高要求。石榴石基激光陶瓷具有理论光学质量高、制备周期短、热导率高、可激活离子的高浓度均匀掺杂及易于制备复合结构的特点,是一种极具应用前景的增益介质材料。钕掺杂的镥铝石榴石(Nd:LuAG)因其优异的光学、机械和热力学综合性能,在这方面展现出显著的发展潜力。本研究以商业Lu2O3、α-Al2O3和Nd2O3粉体为实验原料,采用正硅酸乙酯(tetraethoxysilane, TEOS)和CaO作为烧结助剂,通过真空预烧(1825 ℃,5 h)结合热等静压烧结(hot isostatic pressing, HIP)后处理(1750 ℃,3 h,200 MPa)制备了不同TEOS添加量、掺钕原子分数为1%的Nd:LuAG透明陶瓷。HIP处理后,所得Nd:LuAG透明陶瓷的平均晶粒度为15.2 μm,其在1064 nm处的直线透过率随TEOS添加量的增加呈先升高后降低的趋势。当添加质量分数为0.6%的TEOS和质量分数为0.05%的CaO时,所制备的Nd:LuAG透明陶瓷在1064 nm处的直线透过率为83.6%。高光学质量Nd:LuAG透明陶瓷的成功制备对提升高重复频率纳秒高能固体激光器的性能具有重要意义。

     

    Abstract: The application of high-repetition-rate, high-energy solid-state lasers places higher demands on the optical, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of the gain medium, as well as on its compatibility with the saturation fluence. Garnet laser ceramics have the characteristics of high theoretical optical quality, short preparation cycle, high thermal conductivity, the ability to achieve high-concentration and uniform doping of active ions, and ease of fabricating composite structures. They are a promising gain medium material with great application potential. Neodymium doped lutetium aluminum garnet (Nd:LuAG) transparent ceramics have shown significant potential due to their outstanding optical, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties. In this study, commercially available Lu2O3, α-Al2O3, and Nd2O3 powders were used as experimental raw materials. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and CaO were employed as sintering aids. Nd:LuAG transparent ceramics with a 1% neodymium atomic fraction and varying TEOS addition amounts were prepared via vacuum pre-sintering (1825 ℃, 5 h) combined with hot isostatic pressing (HIP) (1750 ℃, 3 h, 200 MPa). After HIP treatment, the Nd:LuAG transparent ceramics exhibited an average grain size of 15.2 μm, and their linear transmittance at 1064 nm showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with increasing TEOS content. When TEOS was added at a mass fraction of 0.6% and CaO at a mass fraction of 0.05%, the linear transmittance of the Nd:LuAG transparent ceramics at 1064 nm was 83.6%. The successful preparation of high-optical-quality Nd:LuAG transparent ceramics is of great significance for enhancing the performance of high-repetition-rate nanosecond high-energy solid-state lasers.

     

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