Porosity and lattice distortion are decisive yet often independently treated factors in determining the dielectric performance of ceramics, making pore suppression a fundamental, while lattice distortion a key to further dielectric enhancement. Here, we establish a unified methodology that simultaneously suppresses residual nano-pores through powder activation and introduces controlled lattice distortion via Nd 3+ substitution in Sm 2 Zr 2 O 7 . This dual approach transforms porous, opaque pyrochlore ceramics into fully dense, transparent dielectrics with markedly enhanced properties. Structural and optical analysis combined with finite element simulations reveal how nano-pores act as electric-field hotspots that reduce breakdown strength and permittivity, whereas their elimination ensures field uniformity and improved energy storage reliability. Concurrently, Nd 3+ -induced lattice expansion enhances ionic displacement polarization, further elevating dielectric constant. The resulting transparent ceramics achieve a dielectric constant of 48, breakdown strength of 600 kV cm⁻ 1 , and energy storage efficiency of 78.7%. This work provides the first direct experimental–computational correlation between microstructural methodology and dielectric enhancement, offering a broadly applicable strategy for designing high-performance energy storage ceramics.

Investigation on the microstructure, optical, and mechanical properties of multi-component sesquioxide transparent ceramics

Coupled effects of grain size and its distribution on properties of sub-micron alumina transparent ceramics

Fabrication of KMgF₃ transparent ceramics via cold sintering of co-precipitated nanopowder

Luminescence properties of Cr-doped ZnAl2O4 transparent ceramics for radiation detection

ABSTRACT Lu 3 MgAl 3 SiO 12 :Ce 3+ (LuMASG:Ce 3+ ) transparent ceramics (TCs) represent a promising material for LED lighting applications. To meet the diverse demands for light sources across various applications, a series of Gd 3+ ‐doped LuGdMASG:Ce 3+ and Tb 3+ ‐doped LuMASG:Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ TCs with varying doping concentrations were prepared. The obtained TCs exhibited high transmittances of 81.5% and 70.3% at 600 nm, respectively. In addition, Gd 3+ doping effectively induced a redshift of the emission spectrum to 598 nm, while the incorporation of Tb 3+ compensated for the deficiency in the green spectral region. Consequently, the color rendering index (CRI) was enhanced to 80.7 and 77.6, respectively. This strategic ion‐doping approach provides an effective pathway for the development of high‐performance LED lighting and wide color gamut displays.

Optimization of electrocaloric effect in PIN-PMN-PT transparent ceramics via relaxor ferroelectric phase transition

ABSTRACT Eu:(Gd,Lu) 2 O 3 transparent ceramics show exceptional promise for high‐energy X‐ray imaging due to their superior radiation resistance and high light yield. To overcome challenges in achieving high optical quality and optimized luminescence performance, this study establishes a synergistic calcination‐sintering process: 5 at.% Eu:Gd 0.6 Lu 1.3 O 3 nanopowders synthesized via co‐precipitation were calcined at 1050°C–1300°C for 4 h, followed by vacuum pre‐sintering at 1600°C for 4 h, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) posttreatment at 1700°C for 3 h under 200 MPa Ar, and annealing at different temperature (1100°C–1500°C). It is demonstrated that the calcination temperature critically exerts a critical influence on powder morphology and crystallinity, directly governing the final optical quality of ceramics. Crucially, 5 at.% Eu:Gd 0.6 Lu 1.3 O 3 ceramics from 1100°C‐calcined powders exhibit optimal microstructure with uniform grains (16.1 µm) and pore‐free grain boundaries. This optimized microstructure endows the ceramics with excellent optical transparency, achieving an in‐line transmittance of 79.8% at 800 nm and 78.2% at 611 nm (the characteristic emission peak of Eu 3 + ). The X‐ray excited luminescence (XEL) intensity peaks at 1400°C annealing, reaching approximately 10 times that of a Bi 12 GeO 20 (BGO) crystal, but declines at higher temperatures due to scattering‐induced light loss. Thermoluminescence analysis confirms progressive trap elimination with increasing annealing temperature. In addition, XEL spectra reveal intense emission, with a light yield about 10 times higher than that of Bi 12 GeO 20 (BGO) single crystal, and a decay lifetime of 0.96 ms. These findings establish that both precise control of calcination temperature and optimized annealing temperature are essential for producing high‐performance Eu:(Gd,Lu) 2 O 3 transparent ceramics for advanced scintillation applications.

A compositional design strategy for low-temperature sintering of highly transparent MgAl2O4 ceramics via Li+ incorporation

Optimization of Alcohol-Water Mixed Solvent Ratio in Spray Co-precipitation for Fabricating Highly Transparent (Tb0.95Lu0.05)2O3 Ceramics

Novel magneto-optical transparent Dy2Sn2O7 ceramics with pyrochlore structure for advanced optical ammeter technology

Dual mode wide range optical thermometer based on Er3+ doped Y2O3 transparent ceramics

Novel cubic Y4Zr3O12 transparent ceramics with high refractive index fabricated by pressureless sintering

The spectral mismatch between solar cells and incident radiation fundamentally limits their efficiencies as photons outside the optimal absorption range of the cell are lost due to transmission or thermalization. This challenge has driven research into materials and processes capable of modifying the solar spectrum to align better with the absorption characteristics of photovoltaic devices. Rare-earth-doped glasses and glass ceramics have emerged as promising candidates for addressing this limitation, exploiting energy up-conversion and down-conversion mechanisms to enhance solar cell performance. This review provides a systematic comparison of rare-earth-doped glasses, nanoparticle-embedded glass ceramics and transparent glass ceramics as spectral modification materials for photovoltaic applications, with emphasis on their underlying energy conversion mechanism. Alternative emerging approaches such as perovskite quantum dot-embedded glasses and organic luminophores are reviewed to provide a broader perspective on spectral conversion technologies. Device-level challenges and future opportunities are also discussed. It is observed that rare-earth-doped materials offer a transformative approach to overcoming the spectral mismatch problem, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable solar energy technologies.

ABSTRACT Ce 3+ ‐doped garnet transparent ceramics provide an ideal model system for elucidating the coupling between lattice structure, crystal‐field strength, and thermal luminescence dynamics in solid‐state emitters. Here, a comparative study of Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce (YAG:Ce) and Lu 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce (LuAG:Ce) transparent ceramics reveals how lattice contraction and crystal‐field modulation govern their excitation‐dependent behavior. Rietveld refinement and high‐resolution microscopy confirm that replacing Y 3+ with smaller Lu 3 + induces lattice compression and local structural distortion, strengthening the crystal field around Ce 3 + ions. Both ceramics exhibit high transparency (>80% at 600 nm), near‐unity internal quantum yields (98.35% for YAG:Ce, 99.52% for LuAG:Ce), and nanosecond‐scale lifetimes (100.7 ns vs. 86.9 ns). Temperature‐dependent excitation spectroscopy uncovers contrasting trends: the ultraviolet excitation band of YAG:Ce undergoes a red‐shift and intensity quenching with increasing temperature, whereas that of LuAG:Ce remains nearly invariant and even intensifies. Low‐temperature deconvolution identifies reduced Huang‐Rhys factors and weaker phonon coupling in LuAG:Ce, accounting for its superior thermal stability. When integrated into LED devices, LuAG:Ce delivers a luminous efficacy of 117 lm/W at the driving electrical power of 5.74 W, demonstrating outstanding color and thermal robustness. These findings establish a direct structure‐field‐luminescence relationship, offering fundamental guidance for designing thermally resilient, high‐power optical materials.

Abstract Y 2 O 3 :Dy transparent ceramics with Dy concentrations of 0.01%, 0.1%, 1.0%, and 10% were fabricated by the spark plasma sintering method. Their photoluminescence (PL) and scintillation characteristics were systematically investigated. Both PL and scintillation spectra exhibited characteristic luminescence originating from the 4 f–4 f transitions of Dy 3+ . The PL quantum yields were 1.1%, 13.4%, 16.5%, and 1.5% for the 0.01%, 0.1%, 1.0%, and 10% Dy samples, respectively. PL and scintillation decay curves were well approximated by a sum of two exponential functions, and the obtained decay components corresponded to reasonable decay times attributed to Dy 3+ ions substituted at two distinct Y 3+ sites. Furthermore, scintillation light yield (LY) was quantitatively estimated, and the maximum LY of the Y 2 O 3 :Dy was estimated to be 19 500 photons MeV −1 .

The role of MgF2 in the development of spark plasma sintered transparent MgAl2O4 ceramics

Synthesis of Yb:Sc2O3 nano-powders via spray Co-precipitation in an alcohol-water solution for transparent ceramics

Fabrication, microstructure and luminescent properties of Er:CaF2 transparent ceramics by the cold sintering method

Ultra-wide range high-temperature dual-mode optical thermometry based on Ho3+-doped Lu2O3 transparent ceramics