Fabrication and characterization of highly transparent Fe2+:MgAl2O4 ceramics

Abstract

In this work we report on the results of synthesis and investigation of Fe2+:MgAl2O4ceramic samples. Nanopowders with small average particle size of ~ 18 nm were used for the preparation of the samples. It has allowed to synthesize the ceramics with an average grain size of 300–400 nm at a temperature as low as ~ 1200 °С. It was shown that the Fe ions occupy tetrahedral sites of lattice with a mandatory valence equaled to 2 when the content of iron in the samples of magnesium aluminate spinel is higher than 1 wt.%. Transmission of radiation in the samples increased with an increase in wavelength due to the reduction of Rayleigh scattering caused by pores. It was determined that the transmission of radiation in the samples at strong and weak laser radiation remains constant in a temperature range from -164 °С to+22°C.