Y3Al5O12 translucent nanostructured ceramics—Obtaining and optical properties

Y3Al5O12 nanostructured ceramics with total transmittance of 63% at λ = 1064 nm has been obtained by low-temperature high-pressure sintering. According to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy ceramics is near pore-free and consists of close-packed grains of 20–40 nm in size. The transmittance spectrum in the visible and IR wavelength range, stationary X-ray excited luminescence and thermally stimulated luminescence were studied to characterize Y3Al5O12 nanostructured ceramics in comparison to single crystals of the same composition. The observed differences in the optical and luminescent properties were interpreted as a consequence of high defectivity level of nanoceramics arising from its non-equilibrium character, extremely large concentration of grain boundaries and surface states.