Synergistic effects of ZrO2 and La2O3 on the phase stability and optical–electronic properties of Y2O3.

Yttrium oxide (Y2O3)$( {{{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3} )$ has the potential to be used as a host material for creating polycrystalline transparent ceramics (PTCs). This paper presents an experimental study on opto‐electrical properties of Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ using zirconium oxide (ZrO2)$( {{\mathrm{ZrO}}_2} )$ and lanthanum oxide (La2O3)$({\mathrm{La}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3)$ as sintering aids via the co‐precipitation technique. The sintering aids improve the properties, sintering process, and lower the sintering temperature. Five different compositions of Y2O3(((Y1−xZr0.02Lax)2O3),wherex=0,3,6,and9at.%)${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3\ ( {({{( {{{\mathrm{Y}}}_{1 - x}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.02}{\mathrm{La}}_x} )}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3} ),{\mathrm{\ where\ }}x = 0,\ 3,\ 6,{\mathrm{\ and\ }}9{\mathrm{\ at}}.{\mathrm{\% }})$ were synthesized and they were then used to analyze for their structural, morphological, physio‐chemical, and electrical characteristics. For the system studied, the addition of ZrO2${\mathrm{ZrO}}_2$ and La2O3${\mathrm{La}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ does not change the phase of pure Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$, but an increase in the crystal and grain size from 31.2$31.2$ to 42.5nm$42.5{\mathrm{\ nm}}$ and 10.2 µm to 16.4 µm was noticed. The thermal characterization over thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal calorimetry (TGA/DSC) determines the temperature at which pure Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ undergoes a phase transition, specifically over 700°C. A reduction in the band gap due to strain induced by the dopant resulted in a decrease in energy from 5.54$5.54$ to 4.8eV$4.8{\mathrm{\ eV}}$. The dielectric constant of Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ doped with 9at.%La$9{\mathrm{\ at}}.{\mathrm{\% \ La}}$ exhibits a significant increase of ∼50%${\sim}50\%$. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]