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Title: Rapid, Micron‐Resolution 3D Printing of Nd:YAG Ceramic with Optical Gain
Abstract Polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramic doped with neodymium (Nd), referred to as Nd:YAG, is widely used in solid‐state lasers. However, conventional powder metallurgy methods suffer from expenses, time consumption, and limitations in customizing structures. This study introduces a novel approach for creating Nd:YAG ceramics with 3D free‐form structures from micron (∼70 µm) to centimeter scales. Firstly, sol‐gel synthesis is employed to form photocurable colloidal solutions. Subsequently, by utilizing a home‐built micro‐continuous liquid interface printing process, precursors are printed into 3D poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels containing yttrium, aluminum, and neodymium hydroxides, with a resolution of 5.8 µmpixel−1at a speed of 10 µm s−1. After the hydrogels undergo thermal dehydration, debinding, and sintering, polycrystalline Nd:YAG ceramics featuring distinguishable grains are successfully produced. By optimizing the concentrations of the sintering aids (tetraethyl orthosilicate) and neodymium trichloride (NdCl3), the resultant samples exhibit satisfactory photoluminescence, emitting light concentrated at 1064 nm when stimulated by a 532 nm laser. Additionally, Nd:YAG ceramics with various 3D geometries (e.g., cone, spiral, and angled pillar) are printed and characterized, which demonstrates the potential for applications, such as laser and amplifier fibers, couplers, and splitters in optical circuits, as well as gain metamaterials or metasurfaces.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2229279 2227650 1762792 2409815
PAR ID:
10549445
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Small
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Small
Volume:
2024
Issue:
20
ISSN:
1613-6810
Page Range / eLocation ID:
2403130
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
Infrared emission, micron-resolution 3D printing, neodymium-doped yt-trium aluminum garnet, optical gain, photoluminescence
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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