Physical and chemical aspects of the study of clusters, nanostructures and nanomaterials. Founded at 2009

Selection of optimal conditions for ion-exchange synthesis of yttrium aluminum garnet nanopowders on a cation-exchange matrix

A.V. Shergin1, P.K. Shidlovskaya1, E.A. Belaya1, V.V. Fadeev2

1 Chelyabinsk State University
2 South Ural State University (National Research University)

DOI: 10.26456/pcascnn/2025.17.898

Original article

Abstract: This paper presents an ion-exchange method for synthesizing yttrium aluminum garnet powders using a synthesized cation-exchange material based on sulfonated polystyrene. This material was obtained by heterogeneous sulfonation of polystyrene using concentrated sulfuric acid. Optimum synthesis conditions were determined, namely: the amount of the required cation-exchange material, the holding time in a solution containing Y3+ and Al3+ cations, and heat treatment conditions. It was found that compliance with these conditions allows obtaining single-phase products with the maximum yield. When deviating from the optimal conditions, the final product is contaminated with residues of the organic matrix and the intermediate product Y4Al2O9. The phase composition of the obtained samples was determined by powder X-ray diffraction methods; it corresponds to the garnet structure with the Ia3d space symmetry group. The paper presents studies of the particle surface morphology and determines the particle sizes of the powder using scanning electron microscopy. The samples are flake-shaped nanoparticles, the particle size varies from 30 to 100 nm, partially aggregated into clusters of sizes from 1 to 10 μm.

Keywords: ion exchange synthesis, yttrium aluminum garnet, optical materials, nanopowders, cation exchange material, organic matrix, sulfonated polystyrene

  • Alexander V. Shergin – 3rd year postgraduate student, Assistant, Department of Solid State Chemistry and Nanoprocesses, Chelyabinsk State University
  • Polina K. Shidlovskaya – 2nd year student, Faculty of Chemistry, Chelyabinsk State University
  • Elena A. Belaya – Ph. D., Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Solid State Chemistry and Nanoprocesses, Chelyabinsk State University
  • Vladislav V. Fadeev – Laboratory Researcher, Laboratory of Environmental Problems of Post-Industrial Agglomeration, South Ural State University (National Research University)

For citation:

Shergin A.V., Shidlovskaya P.K., Belaya E.A., Fadeev V.V. Podbor optimalnykh uslovij ionoobmennogo sinteza nanoporoshkov alyumoittrievogo granata na kationoobmennoj matritse [Selection of optimal conditions for ion-exchange synthesis of yttrium aluminum garnet nanopowders on a cation-exchange matrix], Fiziko-khimicheskie aspekty izucheniya klasterov, nanostruktur i nanomaterialov [Physical and chemical aspects of the study of clusters, nanostructures and nanomaterials], 2025, issue 17, pp. 898-905. DOI: 10.26456/pcascnn/2025.17.898. ⎘

Full article (in Russian): download PDF file

References:

1. Yin, X., Lin H., Zhang D., Hong R., Zhou S. Nd3+:YAG transparent ceramics sintered under atmospheric pressure for improving the color gamut of LED-lit LCD, Optical Materials, 2021, vol. 119, art. no. 111346, 8 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111346.
2. Chaika M. Advancements and challenges in sintering of Cr4+:YAG: a review, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2024, vol. 44, issue 13, pp. 7432-7450. DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2024.05.050.
3. Sharma A., Yadava V. Experimental analysis of Nd-YAG laser cutting of sheet materials – a review, Optics & Laser Technology, 2018, vol. 98, pp. 264-280. DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2017.08.002.
4. Berends A.C., van de Haar M.A., Krames M.R. YAG:Ce3+ phosphor: from micron-sized workhorse for general lighting to a bright future on the nanoscale, Chemical Reviews, 2020, vol. 120, issue 24, pp. 13461-13479. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00618.
5. Alekseeva L.S., Nokhrin A.V., Yunin P.A. et al. Radiation resistance of fine-grained YAG:Nd ceramics irradiated with swift heavy multi-charged Ar and Xe ions, Ceramics International, 2024, vol. 50, issue 24, pp. 55251-55262. DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.10.378.
6. Belogurov S., Bressi G., Carugno G., Grishkin Y. Properties of Yb-doped scintillators: YAG, YAP, LuAG, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2004, vol. 516, issue 1, pp. 58-67. DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2003.07.042.
7. Wildfire C., Sabolsky E.M., Spencer M.J., Shekhawat D. Solid-state synthesis of YAG powders through microwave coupling of oxide/carbon particulate mixtures, Ceramics International, 2017, vol. 43, issue 14, pp. 11455-11462. DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.06.020.
8. Liu Q., Liu J., Li J. et al. Solid-state reactive sintering of YAG transparent ceramics for optical applications, Journal of alloys and compounds, 2014, vol. 616, pp. 81-88. DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.06.013.
9. You Z., Yue K., Zhang J. et al. Effects of atmosphere and temperature on luminescence property of YAG:Ce synthesized by co-precipitation method, Optik, 2019, vol. 176, pp. 241-245. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2018.09.076.
10. Wang L., Zhao F., Zhang M. et al. Preparation and photoluminescence properties of YAG: Ce3+ phosphors by a series of amines assisted co-precipitation method, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2016, vol. 661, pp. 148-154. DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.11.106.
11. Guo Q., Li M., Gu D. et al. Luminescence characterizations of YAG:Ce crystal via sol-gel method for radiotherapy, Optical Materials, 2020, vol. 109, art. no. 110297, 6 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2020.110297.
12. Pakalniskis A., Marsalka A., Raudonis R. et al. Sol-gel synthesis and study of praseodymium substitution effects in yttrium aluminium garnet Y3-xPrxAl5O12, Optical Materials, 2021, vol. 111, art. no. 110586, 7 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2020.110586.
13. Pugina R.S. Hilário E.G., da Rocha E.G. et al. Nd3+:YAG microspheres powders prepared by spray pyrolysis: Synthesis, characterization and random laser application, Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2021, vol. 269, art. no. 124764, 10 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2021.124764.
14. Shergin A.V., Belaya E.A. Ion-exchange synthesis of rare-earth forms of yttrium aluminum garnet on a cation-exchange matrix, Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2025, vol. 66, issue 6, pp. 1201-1210 DOI: 10.1134/S0022476625060083.
15. Powder Diffraction File JCPDS-ICDD PDF-2 (Set 1-47). (Release, 2016). Available at: www.url: https://www.icdd.com/pdf-2 (accessed 15.02.2025).

⇐ Prevoius journal article | Content | Next journal article ⇒