Structural, morphological and opto-electric properties of Y2−xYbxO3 (x = 0.0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12) nanopowders for laser host ceramic material applications.

Rare Earth substituted Sesquioxides compounds, specially Yttria (Y₂O₃) are essential ceramic materials for solid-state lasers, light-emitting diodes, microchip lasers, and infrared detectors. In the present work, Ytterbium (Yb³⁺) substituted Y₂O₃ (Y_2−xYb_xO₃, where, x = 0.0, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.12) ceramics are synthesized using co-precipitation method. The prepared samples were examined for structural, morphological and opto-electrical properties. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the cubic phase for pure Y₂O₃ and mixed phase (cubic + monoclinic) for Yb³⁺doped Y₂O₃ ceramics. The lattice parameters initially decreases and then slightly increases with the incorporation of Yb³⁺ ions in Y₂O₃. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy demonstrate the morphological changes with varying particle size from 41 to 82 nm. The presence of Yb³⁺ ions in Y₂O₃ nanopowders have been additionally confirmed by XPS analysis. The optical studies dispaly a strong absorption between 200 and 360 nm with maximum bandgap value of 4.77 eV. The photoluminescence spectra shows characteristic peaks of violet, indigo, blue and green emission at 380 nm, 422 nm, 486 nm and 527 nm respectively. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss were observed to decrease with increasing frequency at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]