Structural and Magneto-Optical Characterization of La, Nd: Y(2)O(3) Powders Obtained via a Modified EDTA Sol–Gel Process and HIP-Treated Ceramics

In this study, pure Y(2)O(3), La(0.1)Y(1.9)O(3) and La(0.1)Nd(0.12)Y(1.78)O(3) nanosized powders were successfully synthesized by a modified sol–gel method. Pure and rare-earth ions doped yttria powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller methods. The powders were sintered by the hot isostatic pressing process. The highest in-line transmittance of 56% was obtained at 800 nm and increased in the IR region. The influence of the lanthanum and neodymium ions on the physicochemical properties of yttria were discussed. The La-Nd-doped material exhibited a Verdet constant over 4000 deg/T·m at 400 nm and low thermal dependence. An interesting evolution of the Verdet constant across the absorption band with high resolution was studied. A study of the optical and magneto-optical properties of yttria doped with Nd(3+) and La(3+) is discussed in this paper.