Synthesis of nanoscaled yttrium aluminum garnet powder by the co-precipitation method

Pure yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phase can be obtained from the reaction of aluminum and yttrium nitrate with ammonia, and calcination of the resulting powder at 900 degrees C. Keeping the pH value constant during the co-precipitation is critical for the control of chemical homogeneity within the particles as well as specific surface area of the particles. The specific surface area of YAG powder also became smaller with increasing concentration of Y and Al ions in the precipitating solution. Weakly agglomerated nanoscaled YAG powder with a particle size of 20-30 nm and specific surface area of 68 m(2) g(-1) can be prepared by this co-precipitation method. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.