Luminescent properties of Y₃Al₅O₁₂ nanograined ceramics and single crystals

Abstract

The optical transmittance in the visible wavelength range, thermally stimulated luminescence and time resolved luminescence under excitation by synchrotron radiation in the exciton range of Y₃Al₅O₁₂ host were studied to characterize Y₃Al₅O₁₂ nanograined ceramics in comparison to single crystals of the same composition. The behavior of nanograined ceramics is situated close to the properties of single crystals with large content of Yai antisite defects. The observed differences in the optical and luminescent properties were interpreted as a consequence of high detectivity level of nanograined ceramics arising from its non-equilibrium character and high concentration of grain boundaries.