Synthesis of neodymium doped yttria nanopowders by microwave-assisted glycine combustion method and the powder characteristics

Trivalent neodymium ion doped yttria (Nd3+:Y2O3) nanopowders were synthesized by using a glycine combustion method. The characteristics of the Nd3+:Y2O3 nanopowders with different calcination temperatures and Nd3+ ion doping concentrations were analyzed to determine the optimum synthesis conditions of the samples. Thermo-gravimetry and differential scanning colorimetry (TG/DSC), XRD and FTIR analysis showed that the novel glycine-gel microwave combustion method can provide an effective reaction to form yttria nanopowders. The peak positions of the emission spectra of Nd3+ ion in yttria host did not differ with the neodymium ion concentration or the calcination temperatures, whereas the luminescence intensities were heavily dependent on the ion concentration and calcination temperatures.