Preparation of Y3Al5O12Nanocrystals by a Glycol Route

Abstract

Yttrium aluminum garnet, Y₃Al?O₁₂ (YAG) is an extensively used solid-state laser host material. YAG nanocrystals were synthesized using low-temperature glycol method, a modified sol?gel method performed at low temperature that consists of a mixture of salts that are mostly nitrates in an aqueous media. Single-phase nanocrystalline YAG was obtained at 850℃, which is a much lower temperature than with other techniques such as a wet-chemical technique. The structural characterization is done by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A crystallite size range of 20-50 ㎚ was observed for the materials prepared at 850-950℃.