Synthesis of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) by a new sol–gel method

Abstract

Using Al(OPri)3 (aluminum-iso-propoxide) and Y(NO3)3·6H2O as starting materials with HNO3 as catalyst the YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) precursor was prepared by a new sol–gel method. Polycrystalline YAG powders were obtained by drying the YAG precursor then heat-treated at temperatures above 850°C. The forming process of YAG was investigated by means of XRD, DTA and FT-IR spectra, and no other intermediate phases were observed to form over the temperature range of 850–950°C. The size of YAG nanocrystallite was estimated to be about 20–30nm according to XRD.