Spectroscopy and Optical Properties of Sm 3+ :YAG Nanocrystalline Powder Prepared by Co-Precipitation Method: Effect of Sm 3+ Ions Concentrations

Abstract

Samarium doped Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) nanopowders with different concentration (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 5% and 8% mol) were prepared by simple and low cost co-precipitation method. We found that the precursor begins converting to pure YAG at relatively low temperature around 900˚C, and no intermediate phases were detected. The powders annealed at 900˚C and 1000˚C in air with average particle size around ≈30 nm were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The photoluminescent measurements showed that the reddish-orange (RO) emission transition 4G5/2:6H7/2 is more prominent. In addition, the optimum concentration of doped Sm ions that lead to maximum intensity was reported. Also, fluorescence efficiencies as pumping power dependence for different Sm3+ ions concentrations were explored.