Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of mixed-metal garnet Y3ScAl3GaO12 (YSAGG)

The sol-gel preparation of a new mixed-metal garnet phase in the system of Y-Sc-Al-Ga-O was investigated. Homogeneous gels achieved by complexation of metal ions with 1,2-ethanediol in an aqueous medium were used for the low-temperature synthesis of Y3ScAl3GaO12. Therefore it is concluded that a monophasic sample was obtained by calcination of precursor gel for 20 h at 1000 C emphasising that this synthesis temperature is rather low for this kind of ceramic material. According to the XRD analysis data, no further significant crystallisation of the garnet phase with increasing annealing time was observed. Y3ScAl3GaO12 possesses a cubic structure with lattice parameter a = 12.242(3) Angstrom. 14 refs.