Application of the sol-gel method at the fabrication of PLZT:Yb3+ ceramics

The aim of presented study was to obtain the PLZT:Yb ceramics. Nanopowders of itterbiuni doped PLZT materials were synthesized by the sol-gel method from high quality metaloorganic precursors, as lead (II) acetate, lanthanum acetate, ytterbium acetate, zirconium (IV) propoxide and titanium (IV) propoxide. Anhydrous acetic acid and n-propyl alcohol were used as solvents, while acetyloacetone was added as stabilizer of hydrolysis reactions. Thermal evolution of the dried gels, before and after calcination, was studied by the simultaneous thermal analysis. The amorphous PLZT:Yb³⁺ gels were first calcined in the furnace at T = 850°C, and then mixed in the planetary ball mill. Additionally, the mean particle sizes were calculated by means of powder specific surface area measurements, based on the BET physical adsorption isotherm. Such obtained powders were subsequently pressed into pellets, and sintered by the free sintering method at temperature T= 1250°C / 6h. The morphology of fabricated PLZT:Yb:³⁺ ceramic powders and samples was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Chemical characterization of samples was carried on using the Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy – EDS system. Studies provided detailed data concerning die relationships between doping and preparing conditions on the basic physical and chemical properties of obtained ceramic materials.