Highly transparent Nd:Lu2O3 ceramics obtained by coupling slip-casting and spark plasma sintering

Abstract : A ceramic process coupling slip-casting of nanopowder suspensions and spark plasma sintering was used to prepare highly transparent Nd:Lu₂O₃ ceramic without any sintering aids. The influence of shaping by slip-casting on residual microstructural defects after sintering was investigated. Green compacts of nanopowders with homogeneous and submicron pore size promotes the elaboration of highly transparent ceramics with near-to-theoretical inline transmittance of 81.3% at 1060 nm. Spectroscopic properties of Nd:Lu₂O₃ ceramics were investigated at room temperature and 77 K.